Matthew Perna
Mrs. Smith
Social Studies
21 April, 2016
What changes a military hero from a great patriot to a traitor? Benedict Arnold is the only man in history to be a military hero for both sides. He is known to many in our country as a traitor. His passion for defeating the enemy in the end was what defeated him.
The Saratoga campaign was a series of battles fought during the months of June through October in 1777 in New York. During these battles it was Arnold who led the Americans to defeat Britain’s chalenging army.
Although it was General Horatio Gates who was in charge it was Arnold’s action that helped lead them to victory. During the Battle of Saratoga, the continental army was retreating but Arnold would not accept that.
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A year and a half-later Arnold was in command of West Point, an American Fort on the Hudson River. Arnold was in great debt, couldn’t make any money, and was crippled and couldn’t fight, he desperately wanted the war to end. Arnold has had enough and decided that if he were to help the British he could end the war sooner. He planned to turn over West Point to the British for 20,000 pounds. In the beginning there was much success during his plan. His contact was British Army Major John Andre. Arnold wanted 500 pounds a week for life, 10,000 pounds no matter what, and 20,000 to turn over West Point to the British. Arnold 's plan was simple make it appear that West Point was becoming stronger while he was really weakening it. Arnold sent a rowboat,up the Hudson to get Andre. Arnold took Andre behind enemy lines. However, in the midst of this plan Andre took off to New York. Three men stopped him. Andre mistook them for Tories but they were actually Americans. When they searched him they found letters implicating Arnold in Andres boot. They learned that both Andre and Arnold were spies. Arnold escaped on the boat. Unfortunately for Andre he was caught, trialed and found guilty of spying. He was later …show more content…
He believed that by letting himself join the British military it would somehow weaken the American forces and their quest for liberty.
In 1785, Arnold returned to American soil as a commander of British forces in Connecticut. The most famous of these battles would be the burning of New London. This would be Arnold’s gravest decision, for he turned to the losing side and lost his position in his home country.
Benedict Arnold’s name lives in disgrace. He stands as the American symbol of treason, yet he was brilliant, and without his military genius the country would have lost the war. No other general in American history has ever commanded a single battle that if lost, would have spelled defeat for the entire nation, yet Arnold commanded three such battles: Valcor Island, the Mohawk Valley, and finally Saratoga.
Had Arnold been killed at Saratoga, today there would have been cities and states named after him, and no one except Washington would have been so respected for his accomplishments. His treason has erased much of his glory. He died deeply in debt, as an obscure, pitiful figure in London in
While in this job his loyalties began to shift as his resentment toward the Americans built. He made secret negotiations with British authorities to surrender the fort at West Point in exchange for a large amount of money. Benedict’s plan was discovered and the fort at West Point remained with the Americans. Benedict reverted back to the British’s side and soon became widely known as a traitor. Benedict used his wisdom and knowledge to advance the Patriots through the war.
Benedict Arnold is a historical figure that is famous for his betrayal of America. He grew up in a decently wealthy house hold early on in his life, his mother was a wealthy woman because of her previous marriage. His family would eventually go through some hard times financially and the death of Arnold’s siblings caused Arnold to stress and become a bit of a trouble maker. This wouldn’t have any concern as to why he would betray America would it? Was it the money that was offered?
The downward spiral of American General Benedict Arnold is a long and sad road. The General went from Hero and Leader to Traitor and Scum. What was it that lead to this sad event. Could it be the sight of other junior officers making rank over him, or the problems he was having with other people of note, or could it even have been because of a woman? In American culture, he is the most we known traitor.
In 1775 the British believed that they could beat the colonists quickly, considering they had more resources, more money, an army, and outnumbered them 6 to 1, but they were wrong. They still got fought into a stalemate in the North after 5 years! After losing the battle of Saratoga, the british feared French intervention. Therefore, they had to take the South, before it was to late to win the war. They believed that there were Loyalists down there that would rise up, rally together, and fight with the British army, if only they came down.
In spite of the fact that most Americans are able to share opinions of hatred for Arnold, he did a great deal for America before switching sides. Not only did he show an ample amount of leadership skills, but he was immensely known for giving the American soldiers a morale boost. These soldiers, fighting alongside him at Saratoga, claim that he was “riding on front of the lines, his eyes flashing, pointing his sword two the advancing foe, with a voice that rang clear as a trumpet and electrified the line.” Arnold was able to effectively encourage the soldiers, placing them in appropriate moods
Do you think Benedict Arnold is a hero or a traitor?Benedict Arnold is both hero and traitor. He betrayed the patriots to join the british. He was a hero because he helped the patriots win one of the battles. The patriots were happy with him because he helped them. Then he betrayed the patriots to join the british and so the patriots got mad at him.
Charles Cornwallis has led many Campaigns during the revolution. Such as securing British victories at New York, Brandywine and Camden, In 1781, as second in command to Gen. The victory and Cornwallis surrendering his troops to George Washington was the major conflict that started the American Revolution. Cornwallis’s reputation did not suffer as it should have from this defeat. He was sent on a special mission to Frederick the Great in 1785 and appointed governor-general and commander in chief in India in 1786, a post he held until 1794.
This lack of money meant that Benedict Arnold had to leave school. Benedict Arnold then studied at an apothecary business. He left the business a few times to join the
Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold is a name that has been erased from many monuments for the Revolutionary War, but why? Benedict Arnold is known as one of America’s biggest traitors. Without research, one would probably know very little about Benedict Arnold. Thankfully, this essay will go over the early life, his role in the Revolutionary war, and the later life and after death of Benedict Arnold.
On January 14, 1741 Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut. His father struggled financially, so as a kid Benedict was pulled out of school. Instead of school, he was an apprentice at his uncle 's apothecary shop. Arnold enlisted in the militia in 1757 and traveled upstate to New York to fight in the French and Indian War. Initially, he was working as a pharmacist and bookseller.
The battle of Quebec (Dec. 31, 1775) (www.history.com) was a big victory for America; it ended the “Snow Campaign” in Canada and it downed many British forces in the occupied territory. The “Snow Campaign” was the first major military operation for the 13 colonies. This battle was the last one in that operation for after this battle Colonel Benedict Arnold went to West Point where he talked with the British and told them that they could take over West Point. He did this because he was not promoted to
Spies largely impacted the result of who controlled West Point. In May 1779, Benedict Arnold, a seemingly loyal American General, defected to the British due to several pass overs for promotions and recognition (Auburn). Arnold was given command at Fortress West Point, however Arnold writes to British General Henry Clinton: “If I point out a plan of cooperation by which Sir Henry shall possess himself of West Point, the Garrison, etc. etc. etc. twenty thousand pounds
A martyr is a person who is punished or murdered due to their own beliefs or ways of life. Most martyrs are respected by their followers, partially in a way that Kings and Queens are praised by their servants and townspeople. A traitor, on the other hand, is a person or people who commit treason. The term traitor is often used in political discussions.
Daniel Morgan According to Russell Yost writer of the article “Daniel Morgan Facts, Biography, Accomplishment,” Daniel Morgan came from a poor education and a rough childhood to become an American hero. He rose through the ranks based on his ability and not his last name. If he had been a British subject he would have never been anything higher than a private.” Based on his early life, his reasons for joining the revolution, his role in the revolution, and his later life, Daniel Morgan was a hero of his time.
The Honest Traitor The play Othello by William Shakespeare narrates the tragedy of Othello and his wife, Desdemona’s relationship as well as the story of a jealous man who revenges on his commander. Iago, this envious man, creates a well-crafted plot to destroy his commander, Othello, and his wife’s marriage. With both the help of his clever manipulation as he uses people’s character traits against them and many coincidental events that contribute to the completion of his plan, Iago is able to deceive Othello into believing Desdemona’s adultery but stay true to himself as he often speaks freely of his views. As he carries out his scheme, Iago demonstrates a paradox as an honest traitor as he betrays his commander but speaks truthfully to himself and others at most times.