Seeds of Discontent: The Deep Roots of the American Revolution, 1650-1750

by J. Revell Carr

A narrative history of the largely unexplored events―starting almost a century before―that inspired the colonists to launch the American Revolution. The causes of the American Revolution are most often defined as the Stamp Act and other repressive actions by the Crown against its colonies in the years following the French and Indian War. While these are the direct causes, J. Revell Carr takes a longer view, and in Seeds of Discontent , he locates the roots of the Revolution a century earlier, and argues that "the cumulative effect of more than one hundred years of British disrespect, mismanagement, and exploitation prepared the minds of the colonists for revolution." In the latter half of the seventeenth century, tensions between colonists and the Crown were strikingly similar to those of 1775: representative legislatures had been suspended, the charters of colonies had been revoked, free trade was being impeded by Navigation Acts favoring the Crown, and heavy taxes were being levied unilaterally. The colonists' frustration erupted in April 1689, when the king's representative, who governed the region from Maine to Pennsylvania, was overthrown and seized in Boston. The rebellion spread down the coast, and for the first time colonists risked their lives against English firepower. Unprepared to break with England, the colonists submitted to new governance, but had demonstrated they could rebel. Through subsequent decades, numerous instances of British abuse fostered resentment and friction built, reaching a peak after the 1745 conquest of Louisbourg, the seemingly impregnable French fortress in Nova Scotia. Won on England's behalf at great cost to the largely American-born strike force, the British summarily returned it to France four years later―an act that outraged politicians, citizens, and soldiers alike. Bringing to life the two generations that inspired our founding fathers, Revell Carr illuminates the eventful half-century that inspired a revolution.

Genres: History, American Revolution, American History, Nonfiction, Historical, American Revolutionary War

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2008

Reviews

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done history of the English, French, Dutch and Spanish interactions in North America and how the many interactions led to our Revolution. Most Americans feel the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party and the Stamp Acts led to the Revolution, but it was a long time brewing going back to the 1600's which this book helped to go into.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but essentially a military history. I expected a study of social and political issues, which seemed to me to be cursory and sandwiched between detailed descriptions of battles, particularly the battle of Cartegna and the battle of Louisbourg. If you're not a student of military history, you might want to skip this book.

[J.D. Brayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply informative book. Very impressed, and I finished it with a great deal more knowledge about periods of American history few knew of. Thanks Mr. Carr for the education.

[Andlandm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history of the colonies engaging with England before the revolution. Too much detail on the military engagements, especially the taking of Louisburg in Nova Scotia.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the perspective of over two hundred years, the founding of the United States and the events leading to the American War for Independence seem almost inevitable. Even more so, the events

Dealing primarily with the combined British and colonial amphibious siege’s on the Spanish fortress city of Cartagena in present day Venezuela and the French fortress city of Louisburg in present day Nova Scotia, Seeds of Discontent aims to show how several generations of frustration laid the groundwork for the eventual separation of the United States and Great Britain.

The thesis of the book is, going back to the 1680’s, the British North American colonies, especially the New England ones, had consistently been mistreated and abused by powers an ocean away. This led to inevitable disgruntlement and disgust, as free British people, who believed they had natural rights. Usually this story, for American audiences at least, is compressed to the 15 years or so, leading up to 1776. Carr asserts particular events, going back up to 90 years before then, as creating a mind set of frustration, again, especially for the New England colonies.

Three particular events are the bones of this book: the incidents in the 1680’s, where Boston’s port was closed and its legislature shut down, the joint British and American invasion of the Spanish fortress city of Cartagena in present day Venezuela that ended in disaster, and the pinnacle of this book, the colonial led British and American invasion of the French fortress city of Louisburg in present day Nova Scotia.

The invasion of Louisburg, took place nearly two hundred years to the day before the joint British and American invasion of the French coast on D-Day, in 1744 as part of King George’s War was really the high point of American patriotic feelings for the British crown and cause. The success of the complicated invasion was highly unexpected by all military experts. The invasion force was largely made up of New England gentry, to a well dug in, and hard to get to fortress city. Subsequently, thousands of New Englanders died in the occupation, leaving lingering bitterness, as the young men who invaded the fortress would have a generation’s worth of bitterness to teach their children back home. The eventual abandonment of the fortress back to France created a firestorm of anger and frustration that led the population in the northern colonies to mistrust of the crown.

This is a well-written history of a little known portion of American and British history, by the former director of the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. I am not entirely sure that the author proved his thesis, that these particular events led to the discontent of the 1770’s, particularly in New England. He did show that the northern colonies felt increasingly abused and used.

If you enjoy fictional accounts like the sort written by Patrick O’Brien, you should enjoy the history here, for the author has a very understanding of 18th century warfare, land and especially naval encounters. This is an enjoyable read that sheds some solid light on this period of British, American and Canadian history.

[Jeffrey A Grenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read for any Amateur Historian

I learned much about American Colonial historical events and figures previously unknown to me. The book is well written; the narrative moves along at a pace that emphasizes acts, consequences, character strengths and weaknesses, while excluding unnecessary and uninteresting details meant only to increase a historical work's page count and demonstrate the author's dedication to research.

Mr. Carr has an eye for what is important and an ear for language that imparts the story with interest and pleasing effect.

I must admit that I knew nothing about most of the events covered in this book; that, of course, only made it all the fascinating for me to read. Most of this history was never covered in any class I ever took (and I have taken quite a few), so I write with some embarrassment of my ignorance. I highly recommend "Seeds of Discontent" to anyone interested in learning more about the roots of the American Revolution.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That is all I have to say for this book. The author brought up issues I was never taught in school and clarified the beginings of the American Revolution for me. Best friends and partners England and America may be now, it was not so over two hundred years ago and this book proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt. It is interesting to me that issues leading up to the American Revolution were not at all new or the product of the current British government, but of a longstanding record of abuse, prejudice, hatred, mismanagement, exploitation, and disrespect dating back to 1689. Great book and reccommended reading for beginner or veteran (like me) readers on the American Revolution.

[Jeff Sellenrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read on the merit that this is an oft-neglected period, and I learned a lot from this book that I have not picked up from extensive reading on the American Revolution. Specifically, the pattern of neglect and disdain for the colonists, and the continual problem of impressment of New England sailors, and culminating with the victory/fiasco at Louisburg paints a very disfunctional relationship with the mother country. The book does have its weaknesses however, in that I think the Louisburg chapters kind of derail the thesis and take it into the realm of detailed military history. However this is a must read for any student of the Revolution.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gives a detailed, well-written account of the events leading up to the American Revolution. Lately I've been seeing attempts at deconstructing the revolution and framing it as, essentially, a temper tantrum. This book, however, shows first the years of almost total independence as the colonies grew, then the abuse and neglect by the British government once America caught their attention again. After reading this, it's easy to see that the colonies were ripe for revolution by the time 1775 came around. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I have enjoyed other books for some time. I have read many books concerning US history but have not run across the vital insights this book gives. The revolution is often painted as a result of a few annoying taxes. This book gives background on the animosities that had been building between the colonists and England over generations. I am very happy I came across this book.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The English colonist to North America were not docile subnets. They can for religious freedom and other issues. From 1650 to 1750 they were subject to almost constant martial conflict and an uncaring government. Thus were planted the seeds of the American Revolution.

[Dan Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good background information most of which I never learned in school. Good source material for the teaching of the Colonial period of North America.

[John Morey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book looking at Americans and how we came to be who we are (ie, individualistic, rugged, risk takers, etc)

[Teri Heyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Seeds of Discontent" is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in U.S. history, from colonization to the actions leading up to the Revolutionary War.