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What side was Benedict Arnold on?
Contents. Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) was an early American hero of the Revolutionary War (1775-83) who later became one of the most infamous traitors in U.S. history after he switched sides and fought for the British.
How did Benedict Arnold betray the Patriots?
While Arnold's betrayal was clear—he offered the British seizure of the military fortress at West Point, NY, in exchange for 10,000 pounds and a British military commission—what led up to that moment of betrayal is more complicated and less political than is often taught.
Who was Benedict Arnold and how did he impact the Revolutionary War?
During the war, Benedict Arnold proved himself a brave and skillful leader, helping Ethan Allen's troops capture Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 and then participating in the unsuccessful attack on British Quebec later that year, which earned him a promotion to brigadier general.
What is Benedict Arnold best known for?
Benedict Arnold was an American Revolutionary War general best known for his defection from the Continental Army to the British side of the conflict in 1780.
Was Benedict Arnold a good leader?
Arnold showed exemplary leadership. Through Arnold's heroic actions he was able to save the American Revolution on several occasions, thus saving the nation. He played a key role in several of the most important battles of the war.
Who is the biggest traitor in history?
The Ten Worst Traitors in HistoryJudas Iscariot. No name conjures images of treachery and betrayal like that of Judas Iscariot. ... Ephialtes of Trachis. ... Benedict Arnold. ... Vidkun Quisling. ... Wang Jingwei. ... Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus. ... Mir Jafar. ... Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames.More items...•
What kind of man was Benedict Arnold?
Arnold had an extremely ambitious and jealous personality. He knew that he was distrusted and disliked by senior military officers on both sides. Washington was one of the few who genuinely liked and admired him, but Arnold thought that Washington had betrayed him.
Why did Benedict Arnold betray the US?
Historians have several theories about why Arnold became a traitor: greed; mounting debt; resentment of other officers; a hatred of the Continental Congress; and a desire for the colonies to remain under British rule. The September 21 meeting with British Major John Andre was a disaster for both men.
Was Benedict Arnold a friend of George Washington?
Did George Washington and Benedict Arnold know and admire each other? Yes, at least at the outset of the war. Benedict Arnold and George Washington first met in August of 1775 after Washington had taken command of the newly formed Continental army outside Boston in Cambridge, MA.
Who is the biggest traitor to the United States?
Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold, despite the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices he made on behalf of American independence, is probably known best for being a traitor.
What was Benedict Arnold's punishment?
At the British surrender at Yorktown, Benedict Arnold was burned in effigy and his name has since become synonymous with traitor. The British didn't treat him very well after the war either. After prevailing in a libel action, he was awarded only a nominal amount because his reputation was already so tarnished.
Benedict Arnold's Early Life
Hero of The American Revolution
- When the Revolutionary War broke out between Great Britain and its 13 American colonies in April 1775, Arnold joined the Continental Army. Acting under a commission from the revolutionary government of Massachusetts, Arnold partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen (1738-89) and Allen’s Green Mountain Boys to capture the unsuspecting British garrison at Fort Ticond…
Benedict Arnold's Treacherous Plot
- During his term as governor, rumors, not entirely unfounded, circulated through Philadelphia accusing Arnold of abusing his position for his personal profit. Questions were also raised about Arnold’s courtship and marriage to the young Peggy Shippen (1760-1804), the daughter of a man suspected of Loyalist sympathies. Arnold and his second wife, wit...
Benedict Arnold's Later Life and Death
- After fleeing to the enemy side, Arnold received a commission with the British army and served in several minor engagements against the Americans. After the war, which ended in victory for the Americans with the Treaty of Parisin 1783, Arnold resided in England. He died in London on June 14, 1801, at age 60. The British regarded him with ambivalence, while his former countrymen de…