Benedict Arnold's Mistake, and What it Can Teach Us

Many Americans equate the name Benedict Arnold with treason, with good reason. In July 1780, he attempted to turn over the fort at West Point, New York, in exchange for £20,000 (which is a lot of money now, but was worth a lot more back then). Unfortunately, many Americans have a lot in common with Benedict Arnold. He didn't enter the Revolutionary war with the intention of betraying the American cause; instead, the path to treason was laid with small mistakes. In a country that is familiar with Enron, Bernie Madoff, and tax cheats in powerful positions in government, there is a lot that we can learn from Benedict Arnold's downfall.

Benedict Arnold was Talented

Like many successful people, Benedict Arnold was talented. Prior to the American Revolution, he was a successful businessman. Unfortunately, British laws like the Stamp Act caused him to lose money. When the Revolution began, he joined on the side of the patriots, and eventually rose to the rank of Major General in the Continental army. He helped his country win at Fort Ticonderoga, Quebec, and at Saratoga. George Washington had great faith in him.

Benedict Arnold was in Debt

Like many people today, Benedict Arnold was in debt. Although he had been a successful businessman, he let himself borrow a little too much money. Prior to the revolution, he was £16,000 in debt. Still, Arnold found himself socializing in Boston while he was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1776. When he went to Philadelphia in 1778, he was not thrifty with his money. To help fund his extravagant lifestyle, he took part in business deals that allowed him to make money from the war. In Philadelphia he married Peggy Shippen, a Loyalist who encouraged his unethical business dealings. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't making enough money to fund his lifestyle, and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Benedict Arnold Lacked Integrity

Although being over your head in debt usually doesn't lead to treason, Benedict Arnold also lacked integrity. Selling his loyalty to the British side must have seemed like the easy way out of his problems. His wife was not a patriot; perhaps she helped persuade him to switch his allegiance. Whatever the reason for his switch, his betrayal was not based on a change in his personal ideology. He wanted money, and he didn't care that he was breaking his Oath of Allegiance in the process. In 1780, he sent a message to the British agreeing to surrender West Point.

Benedict Arnold's End

Fortunately for America, Arnold's attempt to sell out the Americans did not work. His messenger, John André, was captured with the message to surrender the fort in his hands. André was later executed, while Arnold escaped and fought for the British for the rest of the war. He spent the rest of his life tangled up in lawsuits from his debts and slander accusations. He did not see much further success, and left behind very little in the way of an estate.

What We Can Learn

We can learn a lot from the life of Benedict Arnold. It's important to live a life of integrity. It's important to live within our means and to not be greedy. We can also learn that little mistakes can lead to larger ones. If Benedict Arnold had just lived within his means, or had lived a life of integrity and had not chosen to betray his country, his life would have turned out differently. He could have been listed as one of the greatest heroes of the Revolutionary War, instead of being the greatest traitor.

Sources:

"Benedict Arnold." Wikipedia.
Schweikart, Larry and Allen, Michael. A Patriot's History of the United States. Sentinel, 2007, pp. 84-85.