Exposing Benedict Arnold’s Betrayal
Lesson Overview
Overview:
During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) General George Washington, Commander of the
Continental Army, wrote his generals often over the years. This is the story of one general who
betrayed his country and took the name “traitor” to his grave. Students will look at personal letters
written by Arnold, Washington and others to come to their own conclusions as to why a person
would betray his countrymen. Arnold wrote-“Love to my country actuates my present conduct,
however it may appear inconsistent to the world, who very seldom judge right of any man’s
actions.” Students will study a brief biography of Benedict Arnold’s life and also use a timeline of
the Revolutionary War from the Library of Congress.
Grade Range:
7-9
Objective:
Students will
 Analyze letters written by Washington, Arnold, and Andre.
 Use their analysis to deduce the actions of Benedict Arnold and understand his motives.
 Participate in small learning groups, in whole class discussion, report to the class, and
reflect together a timeline of these documented events.
Time Required:
Two class periods of 50 minutes.
Discipline/Subject:
Social Studies, American History, Colonization
Topic/Subject:
War, Military
Era:
The American Revolution, 1763-1783
Standards
Illinois Learning Standards:
Social Studies:
14.C.3-Compare historical issues involving rights, roles and status of individuals in relation to
states and nations
16.A-Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation.
18-B-Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.
Language Arts:
5.A-Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve
problems. And communicate ideas.
5.C-Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
Materials
Handouts:
Copies of primary sources for learning groups- 4 copies per group (five to six) groups per class.
Analysis Tools:
Analyzing Photographs and Prints
The More You Look Photo Analysis
Written Document Analysis
Other:
Smartboard or document camera for displaying the investigative questions and primary sources for
the entire class during discussion and group presentations.
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Library of Congress Items:
Title of Source:
Letter, Benedict Arnold to George Washington, pleading for mercy for his wife, Sept 25,1780
Creator of Source:
Arnold, Benedict
Date of Creation:
Sept 25, 1780
URL of Source:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mcc:@field(DOCID+@lit(mcc/054))
Title of Source:
Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
Benedict Arnold, 1741-1801
1894
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004668503/
Title of Source:
Creator of Source:
Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
Benedict Arnold, September 15, 1775, Journal
Arnold, Benedict
September 15, 1775
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mgw4&fileName=gwpage034.db&recNum=103
Title of Source:
George Washington to Benedict Arnold, May 7, 1779
Creator of Source:
Washington, George
Date of Creation:
May 7, 1779
URL of Source:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage?collId=mgw3&fileName=mgw3b/gwpage008.db&recNum=346
Title of Source:
George Washington to Benedict Arnold, May 15, 1779
Creator of Source:
Washington, George
Date of Creation:
May 15, 1779
URL of Source:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage?collId=mgw3&fileName=mgw3b/gwpage008.db&recNum=387
Title of Source:
George Washington to Benedict Arnold, August 3, 1780
Creator of Source:
Washington, George
Date of Creation:
August 3, 1780
URL of Source:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage?collId=mgw3&fileName=mgw3b/gwpage012.db&recNum=128
Title of Source:
George Washington to Benedict Arnold, September 14, 1780
Creator of Source:
Washington, George
Date of Creation:
September 14, 1780
URL of Source:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage?collId=mgw3&fileName=mgw3b/gwpage012.db&recNum=212
Title of Source:
Creator of Source:
Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
By Brigadier-General Arnold, A proclamation to the officers and soldiers of the Continental army
who have the real interest of their county at heart, and who are determined to be no longer the
tools and dupes of Congress or France.
Arnold, Benedict
1780
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/rbpebib:@field(NUMBER+@band(rbpe+11100200))
Title of Source:
Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
General Arnold
1778
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2001697060/
Title of Source:
Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
Major General Arnold Wounded Dec. 31-1775 at the attack of Quebec
1780
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2001697061/
Title of Source:
Creator of Source:
Le General Arnold un des chefs de l’armee Anglo-Americaine.
Esnauts de Rapilly
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Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
Between 1770-1780
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2001697050/
Title of Source:
George Washington, October 19, 1780, General Orders
Creator of Source:
Washington, George
Date of Creation:
October 19, 1780
URL of Source:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage?collId=mgw3&fileName=mgw3g/gwpage005.db&recNum=197
Title of Source:
Online Resources:
URL of Source:
Looking up the Hudson, West Point
1909
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2007664421/
Title of Source:
Creator of Source:
Date of Creation:
URL of Source:
The Capture of Andre, 1780
Currier & Ives
1845
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93510375/
Procedures
Procedure Step #
1. Previous to this lesson, the class will have been studying the Revolutionary War including
Benedict Arnold’s role in the Battle of Saratoga as a war hero. Students will have been placing
key events on a timeline on the bulletin board as we learn about them.
2. The class is divided into six cooperative learning groups. Each group is given one image (such
as a print of Benedict Arnold) and one letter written about a key event, and an analysis sheet.
Students will work together to analyze their assigned primary sources, use the analysis sheets
to drive discussion and complete the tasks of the analysis sheet, and discuss the letter and
the image.
3. When all groups have completed their analysis, discussion, and analysis guide sheet, each
group will create a summary of their findings and where they think this evidence fits on the
timeline displayed n the bulletin board. Each group will share their primary source on the
Smartboard, or under the document camera and reveal their findings to the class. The whole
class will then engage in discussion and questions about the primary source projected, led by
the cooperative learning group presenting that particular source.
Day Two:
1. Continue step three until everyone has presented.
2. At the conclusion of the group presentations, the teacher will guide a class discussion to
connect all of the events that lead to Major J. Andre’ being executed and Benedict Arnold
becoming a Brigadier General for the British.
Resource or Material
Used
LOC Items
Analysis Tools
Other
Evaluation
The teacher will evaluate the lesson through engagement during learning group activities, time on task in groups, group
summaries to the class, class participation in discussion, and individual work on analysis sheets.
Extension
The letters can become “evidence” in a mock trial of Benedict Arnold. Students can act out various parts such as General
Washington, Peggy Shippen, Benedict Arnold, and Major John Andre’. Other students can become the jury and decide if
Arnold was indeed guilty of treason.
Author Credits:
L. St. Gemme’
Charleston Middle School
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THE MORE YOU LOOK, THE MORE YOU SEE PHOTO ANALYSIS
What I See (observe)
Describe exactly what you see in the photo.
What people and objects are shown? How are they arranged? What is the physical setting?
What other details can you see?
What I Infer (deduction)
Summarize what you already know about the situation and time period shown and people and objects that appear. I see
___ and I think ___
Interpretation
Write what you conclude from what you see.
What is going on in the picture? Who are the people and what are they doing? What might be the function of the objects?
What can we conclude about the time period?
Why do you believe the photo was taken?
Why do you believe this photo was saved?
What I Need to Investigate
What are three questions you have about the photo?
1.
2.
3.
Where can you research the answers to your questions?
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WRITTEN DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
First Look
Type of Document (Check):
 Newspaper
 Letter
 Patent
 Map
 Telegram
 Press Release
 Report
 Memorandum
 Advertisement
 Congressional Record
 Census Report
 Other ________________
Unique Physical Characteristics of the Document (check one or more):
 Interesting Letterhead
 Typed
 Notations
 Handwritten
 Seals
 Received stamp
 Other
__________________
Date(s) of the Document;
Author (or Creator) of the Document:
Position (Title):
For what audience was the document written?
Document Content Information
List three phrases or statements that caught your attention or you think are important.
1.
2.
3.
Why do you think this document was written?
What in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the document.
Why do you think this document was saved?
Was the document meant to be viewed by the public or a specific person or group?
List two things the document tells you abut life in the Unites States at the time it was written.
1.
2.
Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
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