http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/06/27/benedict-arnold-a-traitor-but-once-a-patriot.html
Was Benedict Arnold a traitor or a hero? Do you believe he had a good reason to change his mind about supporting the revolution? Explain.
Go to the following link to read about Benedict Arnold, then answer the following question.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/06/27/benedict-arnold-a-traitor-but-once-a-patriot.html Was Benedict Arnold a traitor or a hero? Do you believe he had a good reason to change his mind about supporting the revolution? Explain.
37 Comments
Paige Luppo
10/13/2009 05:23:01 am
After reading the article about Benedict Arnold I am split between both sides. He was a hero in the sense that he helped train patriots with his own time and money which led Washington to appoint him as a commander. But after going through money struggles, getting accused of treason, and being shot in the same leg two times, he became frustrated and joined the British which I believe made him a traitor as well because he didn't just suck it up and keep trying to help out the American side.
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Austin 'holy crap he's cool!' Branchaud
10/13/2009 02:51:44 pm
Benedict Arnold, despite being a trainer of patriots and fighter of wars, was a traitor. You can't polish a turd, and that's what he turned out to be. You don't commit treason just because someone shot you a couple times and you lose. If that was the case then America wouldn't be around now. We'd be called New Britain or some dumb name. Whether or not he was an honorable man before he crossed over is irrelevant. The fact remains that he is a traitor.
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Benedict Arnold
10/13/2009 02:53:03 pm
Ouch man.
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Austin Blanchard
10/13/2009 03:08:55 pm
I respectfully disagree with Paige. It's not as though there weren't other people with the same plight as Pope Benedict. I'm pretty positive that lots of men were shot in the legs and they didn't stop supporting the revolution. Heck, if a guy defected every time he was wounded a couple times and bummed out that he wasn't losing then we would have had a few guys and Washinton, since he's cool.
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Craig 'its 1:29 AM.. I'm tired" Judy
10/14/2009 03:29:19 pm
Benedict had know excuse for treason. I don't care what good he did for our country, once he went behind the Americans' back's he lost all respect. Yeah its great that he trained troops and won some vital battles, but I'm willing to bet that we had a dude out there that could of done the same without double crossing us. If I could go back in time, I would punt Benedict directly in the crotch for what he did. He was mos def a traitor and did NOT have a good reason for changong his mind in suppoting the revolution.
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Craig "its 1:34 AM..I'm tired" Judy
10/14/2009 03:33:51 pm
I agree with Austin. No matter what he acheived, he still was a traitor. I also disagree with Austin when he stated, "You can't polish a turd". Because the saying goes, "You can polish a turd but it's still a piece of crap."
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Sarah
10/14/2009 10:41:54 pm
Reading the article only made me understand why Benedict Arnold betrayed his country, but it didn't really change my mind about him though. His reasons for switching sides were valid, but at the same time, why did he waste his time fighting for one side, if he was just going to end up betraying them and siding with the enemy? Benedict Arnold is a traitor. He may have helped in some aspects of the war, he disappointed people who had a lot of faith in him.
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Bobby
10/16/2009 02:01:41 am
Benedict Arnold did not have a valid reason to switch sides. It is true he suffered from some injustices, but the reason for the American Revolution did not change throughout the war. He started out fighting for something he believed in. He then switched sides for jealous reasons. The articles states that "Petty jealousies kept his name off lists of promotions". Arnold also became very angry when Horatio Gates claimed he won the Battle of Saratoga. Switching for these reasons leads me to believe that Benedict Arnold fought more for his own fame and glory than for American independence.
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Bobby
10/16/2009 02:04:53 am
Benedict Arnold did not have a valid reason to switch sides. It is true he suffered from some unfair injustices, but the reason for the American Revolution did not change throughout the war. He started out fighting for something he believed in. He then switched sides for jealous reasons. The articles states that "Petty jealousies kept his name off lists of promotions". Arnold also became very angry when Horatio Gates claimed he won the Battle of Saratoga. Switching for these reasons leads me to believe that Benedict Arnold fought more for his own fame and glory than for American independence.
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Molly Gorczyca
10/16/2009 03:59:05 am
Benedict Arnold was a traitor. He thought he needed to be recognized for his accomplishments. Is this the only reason he did it? Or was he sincere? A person can’t be called a hero if they are only doing good deeds for the glory. He did use his money to help improve the patriot forces, but that was his choice. No one ordered him to do it. He did not have a valid reason for switching sides either. Not getting fame and recognition is not a legitimate reason to change sides and betray your fellow people.
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Molly Gorczyca
10/16/2009 04:09:27 am
I agree with Craig…
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Paige Luppo
10/16/2009 05:29:48 am
I would also have to agree with Craig on the fact that Benedict Arnold was basically a hypocrite and that he lost all respect towards America. Granted life was not working out so well for him and the British were offering him money, he still shouldn't just stuck it out and kept on trying to help out the America side.
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brian winters
10/16/2009 07:00:02 am
Benedict Arnold was in my opinion a complete traitor. just because u lose a couple of of battles doesn't mean you have the write to trade sides. he was a true example of how to be a hypocrite. not only did he commit treason he dishonored the united states. what a jerk.
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brian
10/16/2009 07:04:43 am
Benedict Arnold was a complete traitor. he was a prime example of a hypocrite. who in the right mined would commit treason just b/c they lost a couple of battles. only a retard would and he diffidently is one.
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Gaston
10/17/2009 12:12:23 am
I believe that Benedict Arnold was a hero. He did do a lot of good things to help train the patriot troops. And using his own time and money to do so. He was a good guy and deserved the position of commander that George Washington appointed him to.
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Taylor Dean
10/17/2009 11:21:39 pm
I do believe that Benedict Arnold was a traitor. No matter what people say he did for the Americans during the Revoultionary War. Even though he was a traitor, I think that he had a right and a good reason to switch sides. If, as a leader, you don't have the support and you feel like you are doing everything by yourself, you are going to get burned out. I think had I been in his shoes, I might have done the same thing even with the consequences following this decision. In my opinion, he had every right to leave our side and help the British.
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Taylor Dean
10/17/2009 11:25:52 pm
I disagree with Bobby, I think that even though, the Americans' reasoning for the Revolutionary War never changed, if you are doing all of the work for one side, especially in war, you have a reason to stop fighting for them. This was a pretty radical decision to make during the American Revolutionary War. The Americans were fed up with how they were being treated, even if what they were being made to do wasn't that bad, and wanted to be an independent country.
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Sharkey
10/18/2009 05:17:02 am
Benedict Arnold will always be a traitor in my mind. Anyone who throws a hissy fit and just switches sides instead of working through it is a coward and a traitor. There is no way he should be considered an American hero.
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Sharkey
10/18/2009 05:22:43 am
I agree with Bobby in saying that Arnold had no valid reason for deserting the Americans for the Brittish. Everyone in this war had a passionate reason for fighting in what they believe in. Everyone deals with injustices, and most people can do it without having to abandon their personal views and beliefs.
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Zain
10/18/2009 05:31:50 am
I think Benedict was a hero. the man made some of the greatest contributions to the revolution with his own time and money. Arnold never actually did anything against the revolutionary cause. his plan to sell west point is seen by most as an act of treachery but it could be possible it was a ruse for a greater revolutionary cause. maybe he was to use the money from the sale to help better his troops or maybe he was playing the British all along. he could have even been used as a tool to unify the people and create better loyalty among the patriots by weeding traitors out. this however will never be known as the whole truth was slashed away. although i do see him as a hero i don't see his reasoning for switching sides as acceptable. a few wounds and hard life are not a reason to stop fighting but to fight harder to break that cycle.
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General William Howe
10/18/2009 05:32:09 am
Benedict Arnold was both a hero and a traitor. There are not many people out there who are willing to give their time in training and to pay for his soldiers' equipment. Doing this is definitely an act of a hero. I also believe that he is a traitor, because the definition of a traitor is a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust. And betraying a cause is exactly what he did.
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Zain
10/18/2009 05:37:13 am
im going to disrespectfully agree with sharky, because you hit me with a spoon. i dont think he had a real strong reason to switch sides. Teds right everyone faced these problems yet they all still fought on. Arnold being a more privileged member of society and taking these injustices the way he did was in a way throwing a hissy fit. he already had it better than most who suffered worse.
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William XVIII
10/18/2009 05:45:53 am
I highly disagree with Paige. Getting shot twice in the leg and losing a few battles is no reason to change sides. I really don't understand why anyone would switch sides and go to the team that shot him in the leg anyways.
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William XVIII
10/18/2009 05:49:11 am
Paige is absolutely wrong when it comes to trade sides. When you decide that you are going to support the Revoltuionary cause, there is no reason to go back on your word... And that includes getting shot in the same leg twice. (who would want to join the team who shot him anyways?)
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What the heck
10/18/2009 05:50:13 am
i submitted it and it didn't show up
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Bobby
10/18/2009 07:38:42 am
I have to disagree with half of Zain's post. Benedict Arnold was a hero until he became a traitor and left the cause he started fighting for to fight for the enemies side. The idea to sell West Point to play the British would have involved more than just Benedict. It would have involved more American troops than just his to trap the British. Also, Benedict Arnold suggested how to seize George Washington. Selling a fort the enemy is treacherous, but attempting to sell out someone who considers you a friend has made him labeled as a traitor for all time.
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Zac "I cant believe it's not butter" Lantis
10/18/2009 10:09:10 am
I believe that Arnold was a traitor no matter what he did for AMURICA!!! If you switch sides your a loser and it just came back to bite Benedict Arnold in the butt. I also dont think that he had a good reason to turn sides, "boo hoo i got shot in the leg twice and no one respects me...". There's no excuse to what he did especially when he sold out West Point, no excuse.
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Zac "I cant believe it's not butter" Lantis
10/18/2009 10:17:59 am
I agree with Craig Judy in the fact that if you stab AMURICA! in the back, your a stupid face and you suck. There is no way he shouldnt be called a traitor.
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Ashley C.
10/18/2009 10:53:41 am
I feel he is a traitor because even though it was out of spite and revenge he went against his own country and traded them in. Revenge is never the answer; revenge only digs you into a deeper hole. Even though he was unfairly prosecuted it was no reason for him to unfairly treat American citizens. Though his country did him no justice what he did didn’t get back at the people that treated him unjustly, what he did was affect many innocent American lives. Though I think his punishment was harsh because of all the great work he did in the past, he still should’ve been punished.
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Amberleigh Varney
10/18/2009 11:43:27 am
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Amberleigh Varney
10/18/2009 11:53:40 am
I disagree with Craig because he did have valid reasons for switching, even though it did not help US, he was justified in his actions. Just because he decided that who he was fighting for wasn’t worth his time and money, doesn’t make him a bad person, he wanted to benefit people, and the people who he originally supported made him feel like crap even though he put forth a lot of effort. I would not have wanted him to switch sides either because I enjoy the fact that I live in America with more freedom than any other country, but I still think he was justified in what he did. He betrayed our country, but his actions did not make that big of a scratch in our history because we are still free from Britain.
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Natalie
10/18/2009 12:49:10 pm
Arnold was a traitor thats obvious. but what people forget was that he spent pretty much his whole life dedicated to serving his country, no matter what the cost was, literally. he sold his own house and used his own money to buy ships and to start/train his patriot forces and even though times got hard with British taxes and policies he still devoted himself to resisting British tyranny by joining and leading the sons of liberty. even through all that he was a commander and he filled his job well. he went through a lot of hardships aka like getting shot in the leg and still kept on going. he did a lot for his country and we always faile to recognize that. if people didnt give me the gratitude for giving up and the service i did and accompished i would be a little pissed too. like shark said thats no reason to turn your back on his country and he should have just stayed and fought through it but i think he had no other choice to. people didn't care about him, they took credit for his work and unfairly convicted him of dereliction of duty. i think he wanted to prove a point but in doing so he was pushed in the mud even further when he just needed to show everyone how great and diligent he really was.
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Natalie
10/18/2009 12:50:24 pm
i agree with gaston, he did deserve the position that was appointed to him by washington
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Ashley C.
10/18/2009 01:43:04 pm
In some way I do agree with Gaston. It is hard to decipher the sides but he did do many great things but he also did one very horrible thing. It's as if your really great, loving significant other cheated on you. Yeah he did a lot of good things but they earned your trust and then demolished it. So in another way I disagree with Gaston.
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Muma
10/22/2009 02:35:47 am
I believe he was a hero. He served his country and was wounded. He did everything that was asked of him. Yet he did not recieve the recognition he deserved. Men that are pressured in negative ways are bound to do negative things. That is why Arnold betrayed the nation. He deserved more than what he got. Just like the Colonist deserved alot more negativity than what they recieved during this time for their Gluttony.
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Muma
10/23/2009 01:47:53 am
I disagree with everybody that doesn't agree with me. Men can be changed under tramatic situations. Benedict Arnold was a BA until he switched and was justified in his switch.
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Benedict Arnold
3/20/2015 07:13:35 am
Did you just say something? I can't hear you over the sound of how swaggy I am.
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