Why was benidict ardnold a traitor?

Answer 1

Well, there was no US at the time. Benedict Arnold was a general in the Continental Army. He was a good general, a good leader, and a hero at the Battle of Saratoga. So why did he do it? The most sensible explanation I have heard is that Arnold simply wanted to have Major John Andre framed as a spy. Arnold's wife was a Tory (a supporter of the British), and Major Andre was paying a little too much attention to her. Arnold used the defense plans for West Point to lure Andre, but the plan backfired when General Washington found out about it, and then Arnold had no choice but to change sides. Andre was hanged, something that Arnold apparently wanted anyway, but Arnold may not have planned on becoming a traitor to the American cause. He may have ruined himself with a personal act of revenge.

Answer 2

ANSWER

because he married a loyalist who slowly how would you say........BRAINWASHED HIM. excuse me, she slowly convinced him to her ways although he could do no substantial damage in the end.

ANSWER

This is a 2-sided question, one with an easy answer and the other being one of the most complicated political and psychological intrigues in all of US history.

First the easy part: Why was Benedict Arnold considered such a hateful traitor. It wasn't just because he decided to resign from General Washington's army and switch his support to the British. That would have been forgiven. What has never been forgiven was the way Arnold went about it. He plotted secretly with British chief spy John Andre to surrender the critically important Fort at West Point which prevented British warships from using the Hudson River. He nearly succeeded, but the plan was exposed at the last minute by the capture of Major Andre carrying incriminating evidence. Arnold lied and plotted and abused the trust of his colleagues in an age when such a thing was just not done by a gentleman. He ended up not only vilified by his former American countrymen, but he was scorned by many of his new British colleagues.

Now the complicated part, which historians are still studying and pondering. How did one of General Washington's most trusted, most successful, most honored commanders end up so traitoriously embittered? We know that Arnold suffered slights and persecutions, but what exactly brought him to the turning point from a gentleman's resignation to a series of heinous betrayals that flew in the face of everything that he had formerly honored, including honor itself? There's a list that you can pick from, but we don't know that there isn't more that has never been revealed. This is one of those "figure it out yourself" answers, because there is no widespread agreement of the precise reason for Arnold's sudden decision to abandon honor as he and his colleagues understood it. In any event, Benedict Arnold wound up an embittered and vengeful enemy of Congress, of George Washington and of the American cause in general.

(1) After 2 years of brilliant military successes, Arnold's career was sidetracked by a severe injury to his leg in 1777. Amputation might have been a better choice but he resisted and kept a crippled leg that caused him no end of trouble for the rest of his life.

(2) Other officers claimed and were granted public credit for some of Arnold's brilliant military successes.

(3) Arnold never developed any political favor in the Continental Congress, and was passed over for promotions in a system where many promotions were politically motivated. General Washington even complained to Congress about the situation, but to no avail.

(4) Not only did he have no political friends, but he developed a number of political enemies that continually harrassed him over financial matters.

(5) After another successful series of battles, Arnold's leg was wounded again and nearly destroyed.

(6) Washington appointed Arnold Commander of Philadelphia in 1778, where he continued being attacked by his financial and political enemies.

(7) Arnold married Peggy Schippen, whose family and circle of friends were British supporters and in constant contact with British officers and spies.

(8) In 1779 Arnold was court-martialed over the financial and mismanagement charges brought by his enemies, but in 1780 was cleared of all but two minor charges.

(9) For some reason, General Washington chose to issue a written rebuke of Arnold, despite the dismissal of almost all court-martial charges.

(10) Congress decided to open an inquiry into Arnold's expenditures during the Battle of Quebec 5 years earlier. Most of the paperwork having been lost during and after the battle, Arnold could not 5 years later produce documentation to Congress' satistfaction and they decided that he owed Congress 1,000 pounds.

(11) Angry and frustrated, Arnold resigned his command of Philadelphia.

(12) During the summer of 1780, Arnold made contact with British spy Major John Andre and British General Henry Clinton, and the West Point betrayal was plotted.

(13) On September 24, 1780, while waiting for George Washington to join him for breakfast at West Point, Arnold learned of the capture of Major Andre and fled West Point in a ship's barge minutes ahead of Washington's arrival with troops who would have arrested Arnold.

Answer 3

Out of jealousy and a strong greed for money!

He loved money way too much!

the answer on top is not the real and actual answer.

this is the one,

Benedict was upset that the americans isn't praising and letting Benedict get what he deserved. Benedict was sure the the british will serve and let him get what he deserved.