Benedict Arnold Research Paper

The book opens to a grim scene of a crowded field, filled with angry and shocked people, surrounding the gallows and looking at the road ahead as a band marched in playing a funeral march. Behind the band marched the broken and defeated Benedict Arnold, former general of the rebel army and traitor to the new country of The United States, in prison rags and shackles. The somber scene concludes with Arnold swallowing his saliva and marching onward towards his sure death. The story of Benedict Arnold begins 39 years earlier in the port town of Norwich, Connecticut. Benedict Arnold was born to a wealthy family in Norwich in one of the coldest winter months ever recorded. He was named after his dead brother of the same name and was some what of a rebel in his younger days. His parents sent him off to a respected boarding school where his real troubles began. In August of 1753 he received a letter from his mother, Hannah. It told of an awful outbreak of yellow fever in Norwich that is soon to claim the lives of his younger sisters Mary and Hannah. Two weeks later he received a follow up, in which his mother stated that Hannah was out of danger but his 8 year old sister, Mary, was dead. Soon after, Benedict's youngest sister, Elizabeth, died of yellow fever. As his pranks and tricks at school became increasingly violent, Benedict's father's shipping business was dying and his drinking problem got worse. Benedict

It is believed that Benedict Arnold was a great general in the revolutionary war. He fought beside George Washington in the continental army. When he was a general for the continental army he had a couple of successful raids and took over british forts. He was also promoted to colonel by Benjamin church. He was doing great during his time with the continental army and his comrades trusted him, and he was praised for his successful attacks. Even though, a couple of his companions did bully and mess with him, they still found him useful when it came to taking over british forts and achieving bountiful attacks towards the british. He even got hurt during an attack on the british. George Washington sent Arnold to attack Quebec where he hurt his knee. As a result, his attack in Quebec failed miserably. This really shows that Benedict arnold was trying his best to be great man and do what was right. After Arnold had done so many

Benedict Arnold sacrificed a lot for the greater good of the American people. Arnold is not given recognition for all of the victories that he had been involved in and at a time during a promotion he gets passed up by low ranking, less talented, less dedicated men than himself. “Major General Horatio Gates took credit for the victory. As if that weren’t enough of an insult, Congress had promoted five officers-all Arnold’s juniors and most far less talented-over him. Even back then politics was part of the equation as Congress ignored Washington's consistent backing and praise for Arnold, whom he admired as a fierce soldier.” (Beck 105). Also, “Benedict Arnold was a hero before he turned traitor. And just how he turned is a complicated story. Arnold made his name in upstate New York, fighting for control of a chain of

The argument over Arnold’s place in American history has carried into this century. All the Americans relate George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson as their heroes, but there is a debate whether Benedict Arnold was a victim or a traitor. Arnold was a general during the American Revolutinary War, and he fought for the Continental Army. His name became synonymous with the word traitor. Benedict Arnold was a Revolutionary Hero that had a huge effect on succeeding in the war. He had motivated a lot of soldiers during the war with his victorious discourses, and battles. Determination could be one of the most important reasons why the Patriots won the war, and had a chance to create their own country. These days, kids are in

Two years later, Benedict had one of his greatest achievements. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning poin tof the American Revolution and with Benedict's aid he had helped make the victory possible. On September 19th, Arnold had persistantly asked his commanding officer,Horatio Gates,into sending a group of riflemen into the west woods around Freeman's farm. Gates had given Benedict his permission and Benedict eagarly sent out some of the best riflemen in that area. (General)

Although Benedict Arnold was a traitor to America in the American Revolution, he was a somewhat valuable general. Benedict Arnold did retire from his position after the soldiers repeatedly complained about him. This happened because of his hot temper, impulsiveness, and impatience. With these not-so-great traits about him, it earned him many enemies that would accuse him of false actions.

          The events of the two years previous to Saratoga were very influential to Benedict Arnold. During that time Benedict Arnold and George Washington were planning a double-pronged attack and invasion of Canada, this would be accomplished by taking out Montreal and Quebec. The idea was that the British commander in Canada, Sir Guy Carleton, could only defend one of the cities during a simultaneous attack, which would leave an unprotected city to fall to the Americans. Montreal would have to be sieged by moving northward through Lake Champlain, then into the waters of the St. Lawrence River opposite Montreal. The route toward Quebec was far more complex. A force would have to be guided along the raging Kennebec River, into the highland mountains of Maine, over three lakes to the Dead River, then onto the Chaudière River, and on into the St. Lawrence River opposite Quebec. During Washington’s meetings with Arnold, he was examined Benedict very carefully, and he liked what he saw. In Washington’s mind there wasn’t a better man for the job than Arnold, to lead the charge into Quebec. Arnold was given independent command from Washington to lead troops through Maine and

The Continental Army’s choice of George Washington as their leader of the continental army was critical in ensuring the United States’ victory. While many in the colonies wanted freedom from Britain that was not the case for everyone. Individuals’ motives were largely location dependant. The Battle of Saratoga proved to be pivotal in ensuring the United States’ victory against British forces.

Benedict Arnold was a general during the American Revolutionary War who had originally fought for the American Continental Army but he had defected the British Army. While he was a general on the American side, Arnold had obtained command of the fortifications at West Point, NY (New York), overlooking the cliffs at the Hudson river and he had planned to surrender those places to the British forces. He was born in Connecticut and he was a merchant operating ships on the Atlantic Ocean when the war broke out in 1775. He had joined the growing army that was outside of Boston and had distinguished himself through acts of intelligence and bravery. Arnold’s actions had included the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, defensive and delaying tactics at the Battle Of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776 and the Battle Of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

The second crucial battle of Saratoga, the Battle of Bemis Heights, occurred on October 7, 1777. The start of the American revolution taking a complete turn. General Burgoyne was determined to launch an attack on the Americans at Bemis Heights. By this time, American General Gates was reinforced with his army of about 12,000 men versus around 4,000 British and Germans. The French Alliance changed the face of the war for the British, “the American war for independence was now in essence a world war”. France had been secretly supplying weapons and ammunition to the American soldiers. They kept it a secret because the French didn’t want a show or create an open alliance, but soon the French realized that the Patriots had an opportunity to win the war. They were now willing to form an open alliance with the Americans against the British. The alliance with French was critical and essential for winning the war. Without the French, the Patriots would have lost. Some benefits of the alliance were that the French provided supplies and ammunitions to the Americans so that they could continue fighting. French also volunteered their soldiers and generals. America was now ready for war with the British. Since Freeman's Farm, the Patriots had increased in strength. Gates’ army now had

Horatio Gates was known for the victory at Saratoga. His service in the military could not be said just a couple battles. During his life he took part in the Cornway which at the time tried to overthrow George Washington. He is known for his character of an ambitious and arrogant man. Gates was a valuable resource in the beginning of the war. He was an amazing administer and organized a army's record. He had a great understanding of how a professional army should appear. To prove that Gates was a good man. It tells that Gates believed that he should be cominder chief of the continental army not George Washington. Horatio Gates took command in the Southern Army and fought general Cornwallis at the battle of Camden. Horatio Gates success at Saratoga and general Washington's inability to hold New York was devastating. The failure in Pennsylvania gave him real ground for his appeal. In November 1778 Horatio Gates resigned from the board of war and was commander of the Eastern department. In 1778 he took command of the southern army again. Which turned out to be in bad

Prior to the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold was a captain in the Governor's Second Company of Guards. When hearing about the battles of Lexington and Concord, Arnold and his men became eager for action. They marched off to Cambridge to ask for the commission of the Massachusetts Committee of Safety to capture Fort Ticonderoga. Along the way, Arnold’s group met up with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. Arnold and Allen disputed about who was in total command but Arnold’s attempt to take command was futile so he accompanied the Green Mountain Boys with Allen as leader. On May 10th, the two groups successfully captured the fort by surprising the British Garrison.

1734. Sometimes his birthday is mistakenly stated as January 1st 1735 which was actually the day he got baptized as it said in the church records. Young Paul Revere had 11 siblings. He was the second child. He attended school at North writing school between ages 7-13, maybe because his father wanted him to be a silversmith. His father’s name was Apollos Revere and his mother’s name was Deborah Hitchborn.His father was a Huguenot silversmith. He immigrated to America as a refugee.Paul Revere as a child was growing up on the streets of Boston.Among those who had grown up with Revere.Sam Adams,John Hancock,etc all in the same neighborhood. Revere was also a French extraction. But he never learned to read or speak French. It was at a young age when

​ On September, 19, 1777, the British attacked we called it "The Battle of Freeman's Farm" it was a great loss and horrible catastrophe. They were about four miles north of American defence line and, about nine miles south of Saratoga. Ever since Arnold returned from Fort Stanwix it has been interesting. Despite there previously good terms in spite their prickly ego, Arnold turned against Gates and took one of his officers friendly to Schuyler dragging him into their bickering. At the end they seemed to have managed and Gates gave the the left wing for Arnold's defences.

During the American Revolution, there were many instances in which a person decided to switch sides, and for the reasons, everybody has their own opinions. Benedict Arnold was a leader, even though he was only five feet and four inches tall. He was a man that knew what he wanted and he would get it. But on September 25, 1780, Benedict Arnold decided that he did not want to help the American side during the American Revolution. He switched sides and became allies with the British. Now there are many people that say different reasons as to why he did it, and all of which are reasonable, but what you are about to read will tell you the historical context of Benedict Arnold’s decision, the controversial decision made by Arnold with all options that were available to him, and the historical significance that Benedict Arnold’s decision.