The Downward Demise Of American General Benedict Arnold

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. When looking at the Revolutionary War his part in it is often over looked. Good or bad he played a major role in the war. Benedict was a reckless and strong willed man, but he was also greedy and that was his downfall. Considering these events that led up to his betrayal it is easy to see how thing went so wrong in the eyes of Benedict

“Later that year Arnold participated in the unsuccessful attack on British Quebec, for which he was shot in the leg and earned him a promotion to brigadier general” (History.com). His next accomplishment was the defense and tactics he used during Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776 which allowed the American forces time to prepare the defenses of New York for the Battle of Ridgefield. He did this by slowing the British Navy through used of a makeshift fleet attacking the ships. He did not win but did what he set out to

He had had problems with the Continental Army. In 1777 he left the Army because he felt he was being passed for promotion, but Washington asked him to return. Ducharme states that “Arnold contends that his treason was a product of these combined motivations: his dissatisfaction with the French alliance, his stormy relationship with Congress, and his desire to end the war” (1319). The public believes that Arnold's motives were based on greed, self-interest, and personal insecurity. Whichever reason it truly was we will never know, but one or more of them is what led to his