Benedict Arnold was a successful American general in the Revolutionary War who later betrayed the United States by secretly switching sides to the British and plotting to surrender West Point in 1780. After his plot was exposed, he fled to British lines, served as a British officer, and eventually died in London in 1801, remembered in the U.S. as a symbol of treason.

What actually happened

  • Arnold rose to prominence fighting for the American cause, helping capture Fort Ticonderoga and distinguishing himself at Saratoga.
  • Feeling underpaid, passed over for promotion, and attacked by political enemies, he grew bitter toward the Continental Congress and some fellow officers.
  • While in command of West Point, he secretly negotiated with the British to hand over the fort for money and a commission.

The exposed plot

  • Arnold’s contact, Major John AndrĂ©, was captured carrying documents that detailed Arnold’s plan to surrender West Point.
  • Realizing the plot was uncovered, Arnold escaped to a British warship and avoided capture, while AndrĂ© was executed as a spy by the Americans.

After he switched sides

  • Arnold received a brigadier general’s commission in the British Army and led raids against American targets, including an attack on New London, Connecticut, in 1781.
  • Despite his service, he never gained full respect or a major command in Britain, and his military career after the war was relatively limited.

His final years

  • After the Revolution, Arnold tried business ventures, including trade and land speculation, but had mixed success and financial difficulty.
  • He spent his later life mostly in London, where he died in 1801, largely isolated and distrusted, with his name becoming a permanent byword for “traitor” in American culture.

Forum and “trending topic” angle

  • Modern discussions and forum threads often debate whether Arnold was uniquely evil or a talented but embittered officer crushed by politics and ego.
  • In recent years, some historians and online commentators re-examine his early heroism at Saratoga and Ticonderoga while still condemning the treason, creating a more conflicted, multi-sided view of his legacy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.