Was Benedict Arnold a Traitor or a Hapless Pawn?

[@lilguava70]

I'd also recommend watching a fully documentary on the revolutionary war. Benedict Arnold got screwed over so many times he finally said "Screw this, I'm not going to keep giving my all to rebels".

[@HermannTheGreat]

It was said that Arnold was a genius and courageous military leader but he was passed over for promotion and black-balled by his superior leading him to move over toward the British side later in the war.

[@margo3367]

HermannTheGreat Like General Flynn.

[@cocotaveras8975]

HermannTheGreat He deserves greater respect!

[@blue2134]

HermannTheGreat that’s what I heard as well, there’s a brilliant documentary on the American Revolution that mentions this

[@MrLantean]

Arnold was dedicated to cause of the revolution. He won a great victory at Saratoga at the cost of an injury to his leg which never completely healed. Unfortunately his victory was claimed by Horatio Gates and was passed over promotions that he deserved. Rewards are important to maintain loyalties. Since he received nothing by serving the revolution, he turns to the British where he was given the rank of general in the British Army.

[@anarchistatheist1917]

@@MrLantean I agree, but arnold held the rank of major general in the American army. He was a brigader general in the British army.

[@briansheehan3430]

Contrary to the myth, it was not Peggy's influence which manipulated Arnold to defect. He had many reasons to do so which had nothing to do with Peggy. He took a back seat to Ethan Allen in the credit given for the bloodless capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the first military offensive in American history. He was stripped of command by Gates, who later took credit for Arnold's victory at Saratoga after Arnold disobeyed his orders and led the Army to decisive victory instead. He was court martialed, by Gates, for treating Tories in Philadelphia with respect. He was personally reprimanded by Washington, even though he believed himself to be acting consistently with Washington's policies towards Tories. But perhaps most importantly, he was furious at the failure of the Carlisle Peace Conference, how the Continental Congress was willing to waste more lives for independence after Britain agreed to rescind their aggressive economic policies, and as a devout Protestant, hated the alliance with the Catholic French, who he viewed as being weak. Peggy simply supported and aided his decision, but it was by all means his decision. He was not some submissive fool. He was a brilliant military commander, the greatest fighting General the Continentals had, who knew that he wasn't being appreciated for the immense success he brought to that Army, being shot in the left leg three times and rendered a cripple in the process.

[@Angel-nu7fm]

All of which made him a perfect target for manipulation. She was 18, hot and rich. He was 36, old, a widower with 3 kids and broke. Andre targeted him and used Peggy. It's called a honey trap or sexpionage.

[@iratecomputeruser4160]

The biggest motivator was Arnold not getting credit for successful battles he won, but which were credited to others. At Ticonderoga, it was Arnold who directed the battle, but the Green Mountain Boys who got the credit. At Saratoga, Arnold won the day, while Horatio Gates sat in his tent, arguing the merits of the American Revolution with a captured British officer. Nobly wounded in the leg, Arnold had was recuperating while Gates accepted Burgoyne's surrender. Granny Gates, flushed with a victory he'd not won, went on to lose the Battle of Camden, and fled nearly 90 miles after his defeat.

[@HermannTheGreat]

Thank you smithsonian for some of the best media production ever for the last several years.

[@anarchistatheist1917]

In my opinion Benedict arnold was a hero at first, then a traitor. I think his wife peggy helped him to get in contact with the British so he could switch sides. But the vast majority of the responsibility of him being a traitor was his own.

[@bearsagainstevil]

George Washington and co were the traitors rebelling against their king and the empire . If they were justified in rebellion why wasn't the South ? In the civil war or second civil war as you could call it .And the loyalists are portrayed as evil fighting to keep America in the empire but acted better that the union army did

[@bingbongbingbongbingbongbi4384]

Weren’t the entire “American” establishment at that point traitors themselves turning on Britain with the help of France.

[@KevinGSmith-mi8js]

Peggy belong to a VERY WEALTHY LOYALIST FAMILY! Shippen. His wife Peggy had an influence in his betrayal!

[@ryanjones7681]

If the British would have won, he would have been a hero... let that sink in a bit.

[@jordanmatchett182]

he still is a hero he chosen the right side unfortunately the British didn't give him enough power fast enough if the did we would off won and it would off been a happy ending instead off the sad ending when the British lost

[@KevinGSmith-mi8js]

Armold was allowed to escape capture!

[@drewharding]

Well he was a traitor when he joined the rebels but he redeemed his actions and joined his people who didn’t betrayed the High King of my people 100% so for me he became a redeemed hero with helping us win 3 more battles before our tragic lose in the first North American civil war in history to date but still greatfully my people and, I won his heart and mind even if we can’t win them all unfortunately but still a good achievement indeed for my people and my history of respecting Britannia all the way and my favourite high King George which is the 3rd who later became the High King who defeated the near pure evil tyrant high high Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte 100% indeed.

[@tailsprowerfan2729]

@@jordanmatchett182 be quiet redcoat

[@jenniferarnold4280]

He is my 13th great grandfather.

[@KevinGSmith-mi8js]

Benedict Arnold and Peggy Shippen are my first cousins thru 7th Gen Great Uncle and Aunt. 🇺🇸SALUTE!

[@michaelproctor8100]

The reason Arnold became a traitor is simple. Promises were made to him by Washington and others. Promises of land and money and when those promises were broken, that's when he went to the British.

[@pmr8317]

Aaah - we know what really happened - just check out "Turn" on Netflix - the Cabbage Farmer done it!

[@LindaMz24]

Is there a longer documentary available?

[@KevinGSmith-mi8js]

Benedict Arnold Hero or Betrayed its on KZbin 2hrs long!

[@Kid_Kootenay]

Umm 18 year old girl a man pushing 40. Men will change religions for that scenario. Of course she was pulling strings

[@jarrodyuki7081]

if a country doesnt pay you enough you are justified to betray them.

[@beth9721]

lol I’m related to her she is like a very very great grandma to me. it’s crazy. my grandmothers last name before she married was shippen!

[@beth9721]

chill I can’t just share something without ppl being rude

[@beth9721]

it’s ok

[@thaibooker9552]

Stop lying.....

[@beth9721]

@@thaibooker9552 stop assuming I’m lying :)

[@patrickroy3380]

@@beth9721 reeeeee

[@catsupchutney]

Peggy, you minx!

[@mrcastillo4240]

What does a minx mean?

[@KevinGSmith-mi8js]

😂 She was a Jezzabelle who came from a VERY WEALTHY LOYALIST FAMILY!

[@c.l.freeman7654]

Now we have Benidict Donald and Ivanka is Peggy Shippen

[@charlesyoungs1761]

Learn to think for yourself

[@Thepirireis]

Charles Youngs One has to have more than two brain cells to think.

[@brad9956]

Charles Youngs That would require the tool to have a brain to think with.

[@brad9956]

Comrade Trump You DO realize that particular idiotic conspiracy theory has blown up in your faces. Try to keep up, fool.

[@mpsSalvadorian]

both parties are the same coin different heads.

[@MeemingStar]

Benedict Anakin Arnold, the chosen one.

[@KevinGSmith-mi8js]

Going against a remote is one thing, going against the living is something else! ...I appreciate your Star Wars tribute! But this was not a fictitious character were talking about! 😂 Hes related to me thru marriages of different families to my 7th Gen Great Aunt and Uncle!

[@MeemingStar]

@@KevinGSmith-mi8js Cool, they called him the American Hannibal

[@luckygirl3259]

AND PEGGY

[@16Balla]

How do they know

[@u.s.militia7682]

Hapless pawn? That’s rich. Imagine if Patton had done the same in WW2. Would he be considered a hapless pawn? 😂

[@carlafowler6111]

why are you so awesome

[@musicstewart9744]

3:30. Well that's what the British had in mind in 1776.

[@Kyp031]

He did a lot of good in the beginning that pay her the way to our country but yeah he totally docked us over

[@donbrassco301]

He has a college name after him😄

[@joelpozin5498]

Which one?

[@SkragorSkumdreg]

*Norwich's boy!*

[@dennisbeers]

Traitor.

[@kdausu90]

Arnold was only a traitor because Washington got all of the credit for Benedict wins.

[@eldersandra9213]

Not true...you have the wrong man. He gated Gates.

[@podsmpsg1]

His ego was bruised, that's all.

[@markfeltonsson3093]

It is crazy to me how the Smithsonian gets most of its funding from the American taxpayers and yet ends a segment about an important event in American history without showing what happened.

[@andrewroberts7428]

wow, yeah, it's the greatest injustice in human history

[@normaredman2198]

It's obvious that Washington wasn't captured, and went on to become president.

[@andrewemery4272]

The man was a Hero who saw the error of his ways and left evil to fight for good.

[@SoapinTrucker]

Women! Can't go to war with 'em, can't go to war without'em! ;)

[@chad_b]

He can't be both?

[@jordanmatchett182]

was he really a traitor though he was born under in American under British rule if you think about it yeah he was a traitor to the british at the start as he fought againts them but then he went over to the british side later if only he had off dont it sooner though

[@robertreis6177]

Traitor

[@briancooper2112]

Traitor!

[@mollymcmurtrie8037]

I agree.

[@MichelleBeahm]

A woman always has a hand in the downfall of man

[@thaibooker9552]

Dont blame her. His Male colleagues that black balled him pushed him to that point, not the woman...

[@pompom-yr3sx]

“ are the democrats traitors or hapless pawns”

[@SeanAlegator]

For the title? Definitely a treasonous traitor.

[@1990HondaEFHatch]

"Is Donald Trump a traitor or a hapless pawn?"

[@Thepirireis]

GFY!

[@brad9956]

ThinkOrDie No. You leftists are both. Since you obviously don’t have the ability to think, doe this mean you’re going to die?

[@whathell6t]

Brad Oh crap! You’re going to attract grammar Nazis with that sentence. Just FYI.

[@margo3367]

It's Melania that did it!

[@KeizerHedorah]

Benedict Arnold is literally known for being a traitor lol

[@russhoffman6301]

He let his ego get the better of him, which made him "jump ship" to the British. Traitor through and through.

[@patrickmulroney9452]

washington said arnold saved the revolution at valcour island!

[@Iamrightyouarewrong]

Traitor.

[@ryanjones7681]

Yup

[@pike8290]

@@ryanjones7681 Just like George Washington and all other "founding fathers"

[@GeoffBosco]

He sold out John Andre. Look into all the details of the night andre was captured and all the coincidences that had to happen for a man like andre to fall right onto the hands of three supposed ragamuffin raiders with loyalties to the Patriots. I don't buy the idea that Washington knew nothing of Arnold's treachery.

[@Iamrightyouarewrong]

@@GeoffBosco so Arnold was an innocent pawn that had no control of his own actions? I don't get it up until his death Benedict was sovereign in his own right, and then he becomes the most manipulated person in history. History is to learn from not dwell on.

[@Angel-nu7fm]

@@GeoffBosco Exactly. The chess game behind this was covered for so long. The Culper ring had someone (a woman) in Andre's inner circle. Peggy's role wasn't even realized until over 100 years after her death. Pretty good cover up. Her gender and age gave her cover for the time.