Activity 4
Patriot/Traitor
B
enedict Arnold becomes a leading character in this
season on AMC’s TURN: Washington’s Spies,
appearing as a bold and decisive alternative to
Washington’s leadership for some patriots and as a potential
turncoat to the British spymaster, Major John Andre.
Born in Norwich, Connecticut,
Arnold came from a wealthy
family though ultimately his
father wasted their fortune.
Arnold became an apprentice
at an apothecary business
and then went on to fight in
the French and Indian War.
Working with Ethan Allen and
his Green Mountain Boys,
Arnold was instrumental in
the capture of the British at
Fort Ticonderoga in May of
1775. He was then dispatched north where he was instructed to rally Canadian
support for the Patriots in an effort to prevent the British from securing a
stronghold in the north from which they could attack the colonies.
Arnold was also largely responsible for the American victory at Saratoga in
1777, where he was wounded, but he felt that his achievements were not
properly rewarded, even when he was appointed the military governor of
Philadelphia after the British withdrew in 1778. Arnold was soon rumored
to be profiting personally from this position, and he came under added
suspicion when he married Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a prominent
Loyalist. By 1779, Arnold had started working with the British, whom he
felt were more appreciative of his efforts than were the Patriots.
part one
Assess Arnold from both of these perspectives — that of patriot and
traitor – using primary sources to learn about his family background,
his accomplishments on the battlefield, and his ambitions.
DISCOVERY
• Learn about Arnold’s life and military service at
www.mountvernon.org/benedictarnold and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold.
• Read a contemporary’s account of his career at
www.americanrevolution.org/tbios.php#anchor600591.
DISCUSSION
Reproducible Master
part two
Learn more about Arnold’s treachery as
commander of the American fort at West Point
and his support for the British through the
remaining years of the war. Assess whether or
not Arnold was truly a traitor and then examine
modern-day informants meet the criteria as well.
DISCOVERY
• Located at a strategic point along the
Hudson River, West Point was valuable
to both sides; its capture by the British
would have solidified a division among
the colonies while keeping control of it
meant the Patriots could connect with the
French troops and move freely throughout
the area. Learn more about Arnold’s
involvement with West Point here: http://
clements.umich.edu/exhibits/online/spies/
stories-arnold-3.html.
• Arnold felt that he had not been
adequately rewarded for his military
success in the war effort so he tried to
help the British capture West Point. Read
Arnold’s correspondence with Britain’s chief
intelligence officer, Major John Andre, here:
http://iarchives.nysed.gov/Gallery/gallery.
jsp?id=45.
• Arnold’s treason was discovered when
Patriots captured Major Andre on his
way back from West Point with papers
describing how to take the fort hidden
in his shoe. Read about Andre, who was
eventually executed for espionage, at www.
mountvernon.org/research-collections/
digital-encyclopedia/article/john-andre.
DISCUSSION
• Establish a set of criteria against which you
can assess whether Arnold was truly a patriot
or a traitor using evidence from your research.
What would have happened if Andre had not
been captured?
• Based on your criteria, debate whether
modern-day whistleblowers/informants like
Edward Snowden, Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea
Manning, and Jeffrey Sterling are traitors.
• In what ways was Arnold a patriot? A traitor?
What factors influenced his decisions?
• What factors would lead a patriot like Ben Tallmadge to see
Arnold as a potential replacement for George Washington?
What factors led Major Andre to single out Arnold as a man
ready to betray his cause?
• Has public perception of Arnold changed over time?
If so, what factors have influenced this?
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