Luis Gonzalez
Period 5
9/3/13
U.S HISTORY BIOGRAPHIES
BENEDICT ARNOLD Benedict Arnold is the most well-known traitor of the American Revolutionary War. He would have been famous for his successful military actions, if he had not turned spy for the British. Arnold was born on January 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. In his early years, Benedict joined the army many times, yet always deserted his position. He was apprenticed to a pharmacist and later opened his own store. Arnold became very wealthy and was able to send merchant ships to Canada and the West Indies. When the war broke out between the colonies and England, Arnold, then captain of militia, thought that this was his chance to be famous, distinguished, and respected. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Benedict coerced authorities there into appointing him colonel. In exchange he promised to enlist and train men to capture Fort Ticonderoga. When he learned that Ethan Allen already made plans to do the same, Arnold demanded Allen to turn over command to him. Allen forcibly refused, but allowed him to come along. Arnold commanded troops and took the British garrison at St. Johns, Canada a few days following Allen's victory. Arnold and General Richard Montgomery led a failing attack on Quebec in December of 1775. Arnold was badly wounded and Montgomery was killed. After he recovered, he was promoted to brigadier general and for the rest of the year, with a fleet of boats, battled British gunboats on Lake Champlain. After a victorious assault on British soldiers in the spring of 1777, Arnold was promoted to major general on May 2, 1777, yet he was angry. Five generals were appointed before him and he was furious that he was of lower rank to them. Arnold fought in the Battles of Saratoga and although records credit General Gates for the win, it was really Benedict who claimed the victory. General Washington gave Arnold seniority over the five other generals as a reward for his actions. In June of 1778, Arnold was given command of Philadelphia. The British had left and the city returned to normalcy. Following his marriage, he fell heavily into debt. About this time, Arnold started meeting with British officials. They bargained and negotiated and finally the British convinced him to become a traitor. Arnold was court-martialed in January of 1780, but was not for treason. He was found guilty of using his office to obtain money, yet his punishment was light. The British paid him 20,000 pounds in exchange for him to surrender West Point, New York. The plot fell apart when the British go-between was captured and hung. Arnold escaped and sought refuge with British forces, who appointed him brigadier general. For the remainder of the war, he led attacks on his former associates in New England. Afterwards he lived in Canada and England. Benedict Arnold died on June 14, 1801.
QUESTIONS
Benedict Arnold was a well-respected soldier for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. He helped the Americans win many battles and wars but he was a traitor and the Americans hate him for that despicable act he made. In the Battles of Saratoga in 1777, he suffered leg injuries that ended his combat career for several years. Arnold was born the second of six children to Benedict Arnold and Hannah Waterman King in Norwich, Connecticut, on January 14, 1471. His older brother died at a very young age and only Benedict and his sister Hannah survived to adulthood; his other siblings succumbed to yellow fever in childhood. Arnold’s father was a successful businessman, and the family moved in the upper levels of Norwich society. When he was ten, Arnold was enrolled in a private school in nearby Canterbury, with the expectation that he would eventually attend Yale. Arnold's mother, to whom he was very close, died in 1759. His father's alcoholism worsened after the death of his wife, and the youth took on the responsibility of supporting his father and younger sister. His father was arrested on several occasions for public drunkenness, was refused communion by his church and eventually died in 1761. Arnold always wanted to be the best one and that led him to be a traitor and a coward. After a victorious assault on British soldiers in the spring of 1777, Arnold was promoted to major general on May 2, 1777, yet he was angry. Five generals were appointed before him and he was furious that he was of lower rank to them. Arnold was pursuing excellence by trying to be the best but he didn’t do it the right way because he lied to his country and the people. What I admire the most about this figure is that he lied to the United States of America and the people. He did help the Americans win many hard fought battles but his jealousy made him a bad person. He was a very smart person because when he was done with his studies he was going to go to Yale. Arnold’s life was remarkable because he was a great soldier and George Washington even made him the lead soldier because he helped win the Battles of Saratoga. Arnold’s life was despicable because he was a traitor and he lied to other soldiers. He was a bad person and the reason he lied to the Americans was because he was unhappy with his situation and pessimistic about the country's future. His life was admirable because when he was a young person he had to go through a lot. Four of his six brothers died, his dad was alcoholic, and his mom died when he was a young person. He was very smart and his dad was a successful businessman and he had a bright future ahead of him. Arnold always tried to be the best at everything he did but he didn’t do it the right way. Arnold fought in the Battles of Saratoga and although records credit General Gates for the win, it was really Benedict who claimed the victory. Arnold always wanted to give everything he had on the battlefield. He didn’t like to lose and he wanted to win every single battle and war he was part of. Benedict Arnold made one crucial mistake and that mistake was that he lied to the US. Arnold lamented over the "deplorable" and "horrid" situation of the country at that particular moment, citing the depreciating currency, disaffection of the army, and internal fighting in Congress for the country's problems, while predicting "impending ruin" if things would not soon change. He decided to join the British army and he wanted to eliminate the Americans. If I was Benedict Arnold I would have told the president of the US to make the country a better one and I would have also stayed with the Americans instead of going to the British. I learned that you shouldn’t be a traitor to your own country and that Arnold had a bright future ahead of him and he wasted a once in a lifetime opportunity. Arnold’s mom always encouraged him and she provided guidance and helped him make the right decisions. To me hero means a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. My person was definitely not a hero because he lied to his country and made big mistakes. Celebrities are people that are well known and easily recognized in society. Often they are known for their artistic abilities, athletic prowess or good looks and sometimes wealth while heroes are men who help others in need or make a change for the better in the lives of those around them.