Name/per. _________________________________________
BENEDICT ARNOLD
Few people in American history are known for worse
reputations than Benedict Arnold. His name itself is a synonym
for a “traitor.” Calling someone a “Benedict Arnold” is certainly
an insult! Yet, this man spent most of his life as a loyal American
colonist, and most of his military career as a soldier in patriot
militias and Washington’s Continental Army.
Benedict Arnold first entered the military at the age of
15 and went on to become a druggist and successful merchant.
He married and had three sons before his wife died only eight
years later. As an active and concerned colonist, he was outspoken
against what he and other patriots saw as British abuses.
Arnold served his land faithfully in the French and Indian War, and then again for five years after
the start of the Revolution. In that time he proved himself to be a brave and skilled leader, and was actually
wounded twice. Still, he often felt that he was unfairly treated by Congress, passed over time and again for
promotion. This was at least in part why, despite the support of his friend George Washington, Benedict
Arnold decided to change sides in the war and work secretly for the British.
He would become the most infamous traitor who planned to hand the colonial fort of West Point
over to the British. West Point was, at that time, an American stronghold along the Hudson River in New
York. Its capture would have been a terrible blow to the American war effort. It could have cost the new
nation its independence, but instead the plan failed and Benedict Arnold was forever disgraced in American
history.
1. According to the passage, Benedict Arnold is BEST known as a
a. loyalist
b. turncoat
c. trader
d. patriot
2. Which definition BEST FITS the use of the word “promotion” in the second paragraph?
a. Advancement in rank or position
b. Encouragement of progress or growth
c. Furtherance of a business or cause
d. Advertisement of a product or service
3. Based on the reading, it could be said that Benedict Arnold
a. lived in America his whole life
b. was evil from the day he was born
c. served as commander of West Point
d. felt justified in his changed of loyalty
1
Different Perspectives
General George Washington
I know there are those who hold ill-feelings against Benedict Arnold, yet I call him “friend.”
Though he has at time misjudged in his military planning, he has also played into many key victories.
Though he failed to take Canada, the redcoats were so worn from battle with him that they retired to
Montreal for the winter. It was that delay in 1776 that allowed me to move my troops into position to strike
at Trenton and Princeton.
I believe Benedict’s problems arose from his enemies. Charges brought against him by one his illwilled lieutenants in Canada brought down an investigation around him. Though the charges were found
groundless by Congress, their effect was a turn against him by some members. You see not all in the body
supported me, and their venom touched my officers.
The Conway faction of the Continental Congress failed to bring me to ruin, but it did harm
Benedict’s military career. He was passed over time and time again for promotions he deserved, promotions
granted instead to lesser soldiers.
Ethan Allen
Having the occasion to do battle alongside Benedict Arnold, I’ve both good and bad to say about
the man. He is most certainly a skilled soldier, yet he is also a selfish, vain man as well. He proved himself
most able over and again, yet in each case he did so as to gain attention and promotion.
When he and his troops joined the fight in Boston in 1775, it was against the directions of General
Wooster, the commander in the area. Arnold even threatened to steal ammunition, if not allowed to fight.
He then proceeded to lead his troops to battles in Massachusetts and Connecticut, at one point even rushing
in ahead of my brigade, which was ordered to be there, to claim the victory as his own. If you ask me, skill
is one thing, but discipline is just as important for a soldier. And that is what Benedict Arnold lacks!
John Andre
As a true loyalist and party to his “treason,” I believe Benedict Arnold was in most ways a patriot.
At the time we hatched the plan for him to gain command of West Point and turn it over to the British, he
and the war effort were in low form. Arnold had been badly wounded at Saratoga, and then charges were
brought against him in Congress for a second time. Though once again found not guilty, Benedict was quite
angry at the unfair treatment and lack of thanks he received for his military feats.
The war, too, had been going poorly, when friends of his new loyalist wife in Philadelphia convinced
him that he could save his land from further harm. He was told that if he could hand the important fort to
Britain, the war would end quickly. Then, he was assured, the colonies would be given all the rights and
freedoms they had demanded in 1775 before fighting began.
2
DIRECTIONS for pages 1-4:
1. Read the articles on pages 1 and 2 of the packet, and circle any unfamiliar, content, and/or complex
words. Do NOT choose proper nouns.
2. Use a dictionary to define at least 10 of the circled words. Do NOT use the word in its definition.
Make sure that your definition is in the proper context. Put your words and definitions on the lines
below. Start each definition on a new line. Number as you go.
3. Answer the questions on page 1. Highlight and number the section(s) of the article on page 1 that
helped you find the answer. (Please put your numbers in the margins).
4. Answer the questions on page 4. Highlight and number the section(s) of the articles on page 2 that
helped you find the answer. (Please put your numbers in the margins).
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3
Benedict Arnold – Different Perspectives
Directions: As you read each of the three perspectives, answer the following questions using relevant evidence from the text. Highlight
and number the evidence in the text, and circle unfamiliar/important vocabulary words.
1. According to Ethan Allen, what were some of Benedict Arnold’s good traits?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why did Ethan Allen think that Benedict Arnold lacked discipline as a soldier?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did George Washington refer to Benedict Arnold as a “friend”?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why did Washington believe that Arnold was not recognized for his achievements?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
5. According to John Andre, what factors contributed to Benedict Arnold’s decision to turn over the fort at West
Point to the British?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4
WEIGHING THE FACTS
DIRECTIONS: Given what you have learned about Benedict Arnold, choose a statement from the list
below, and make and defend a claim to support your choice. Be sure to include at least two pieces of
relevant evidence from the articles you read. Your answer must be a paragraph and must fit in the space
provided.
1. Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country!
or
2. Benedict Arnold was a true patriot!
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
5
Benedict Arnold Rubric
Name/per. ________________________________
Overall Score: 4 =A range; 3 =B range; 2 = C range; 1= D range and below
PBA Steps
4
Exceeds grade level
expectation
3
Meets grade level
expectation
2
Approaching grade level
expectation
1
Below grade level
expectation
Paragraph
demonstrates a clear
awareness of audience
& task.
Is clearly persuasive.
Paragraph demonstrates
an awareness of
audience & task.
Includes some language
to persuade the reader.
Paragraph is a
summary of
information, and is
not persuasive.
Student highlights
relevant evidence
from the text.
Responds clearly to
text-dependent
questions using
relevant evidence.
Clearly defines
extensive content
and/or complex
vocabulary in proper
context.
Student highlights
some relevant
evidence from the
text.
Responds clearly to
text-dependent
questions using some
evidence.
Defines the required
amount of content
and/or complex
vocabulary in proper
context.
Student highlights
minimal relevant
evidence from the text.
Responds to textdependent questions
using minimal evidence.
Defines some content
and/or complex
vocabulary.
Student’s
highlighting does
not include relevant
evidence from the
text, or highlighting
is missing.
Responses to textdependent questions
are missing and/or
vague.
Defines minimal, or
does not define
content-specific nor
complex vocabulary.
Student selects and
applies extensive and
specific information
from sources
provided to support
the position taken in
the paragraph (at
least 3 pieces of
evidence).
Student selects and
applies specific and
relevant information
from sources to
support the position
taken in the paragraph
(at least 2 pieces of
evidence).
Student selects some
relevant information
from sources provided
to support the position
taken in the paragraph
(1 piece of evidence).
Student selects
information that
minimally supports
the position taken in
the paragraph, or
the information
selected is not
relevant.
Paragraph is written
using exceptional
grammar, spelling,
and fluency.
Paragraph is
reasonably fluent and
includes few grammar
and spelling errors.
Paragraph contains
errors in fluency and/or
grammar that somewhat
detract from the reader’s
understanding.
Paragraph contains
many errors in
fluency and/or
grammar that
significantly detract
from the reader’s
understanding.
Paragraph
demonstrates a clear
Evidenceawareness of
based
audience & task.
Argumentative Student
Writing
demonstrates
exceptional
persuasive skills.
Active
Reading
Strategies
Use of
Evidence/
Critical and
Creative
Thinking
Use of
Language
6
Due Date ___________________
Name/period ______________________________
Checklist for “Benedict Arnold” activity.
This activity counts as a test grade.
Student
Teacher

Pg. 1: 3 questions answered
5
_____
_____

Pg. 1: Highlighting and numbering completed
5
_____
_____


Pg. 2: Highlighting and numbering completed
5
_____
_____


Pg. 3: 10 vocabulary words circled and defined in context
30
_____
_____


Pg. 4: Text Dependent questions answered completely
25
_____
_____

Pg. 5: Paragraph complete; uses one of the statements
provided
5
_____
_____
Pg. 5: Claim defended with at least 2 pieces of
relevant evidence
20
_____
_____
Packet is turned in on time
5
_____
_____


Total points
100
----------------------------
_____
_____
7