Benedict Arnold: War Hero

Benedict Arnold’s name has become infamous for his treacherous acts regarding the fort at West Point, which he was in command of, and his very name has even become a synonym for either treason or betrayal. However, Arnold was a prominent figure in the American Revolution and, for a time, was a distinguished war hero who simply became disgruntled with the Continental Congress, largely stemming from his being passed over for promotion. However, his general attitude toward life resulted in him deciding to betray his soldiers and the republic he had sworn allegiance to, a truly unforgettable act. As Arnold was unable to believe in a higher purpose than himself, and even quickly became disenfranchised with the British following his defection, he

However, his tenure was short-lived as, after word traveled that the French, and their native allies, had won a substantial victory by successfully besieging the beleaguered British troops at Fort William Henry in upstate New York, Arnold’s company was forced to turn around and was disbanded after just a few weeks.
Arnold then became a prominent businessman and eventually established a profitable Caribbean trade network, where his wealth began to grow exponentially. However, several British acts, including the notorious Sugar and Stamp Acts, of 1764 and 1765, respectively, pushed him into ruin, by some estimates 16000 pounds, or 3 million dollars today, into debt. Arnold then become a member of the secret organization known as the Sons of Liberty in order to openly contest British authority. Shortly after he was elected to be a captain in Connecticut's

He was so self-centered that after one trivial incident, him being passed over for a promotion, he made up his mind to betray his countrymen. While many historians have documented his early military successes against the British as an example of his being a patriot they can only have attributed to his sense of self-importance. While certainly a skillful general, Arnold's core attitude and principles, such as his unwillingness to follow orders, shown at the battle of Saratoga, as well as his propensity to always see the worst in people, directly contradict the very principles of founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence. While these documents expressed a desire to remove a tyrant's hold over the American people there was always an ever-present ultimate goal. This goal was the uniting of the various territories in order to establish a unique country with idealistic beliefs and freedoms that were not enjoyed anywhere else in the world at that time. Indeed, these core principles, largely regarding several freedoms, proved so valiant and beneficial to society at large that soon many other countries around the world began to adopt them, beginning with the French following the conclusion of the Napoleonic