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Social Studies 5: That Scoundrel: Benedict Arnold 17 Views


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Description:

Let's just say it's a good thing Benedict Cumberbatch is here to start redeeming the name. Today we're learning about one of the traitorest traitors that ever traited through the U.S., Benedict Arnold.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

[Dino and Coop singing]

00:12

The world is filled with some pretty great Benedicts... [The Earth from space]

00:16

Benedict Cumberbatch…eggs benedict….Benedict Cumberbatch eating eggs benedict… [Pictures of the different Benedicts]

00:21

But when it comes to American history, the name of “Benedict” is associated with a guy [US flag]

00:26

everyone loves to hate: Benedict Arnold.

00:29

But believe it or not, he wasn't always the lowest rung in the Benedict ladder. [Ladder full of pictures of different people named Benedict]

00:34

In fact for much of the Revolution, Benedict Arnold’s name was synonymous with “war hero". [Picture of Benedict Arnold and war hero stamp]

00:39

He helped take Ft.

00:40

Ticonderoga…

00:41

… got wounded in an assault on Quebec City…

00:43

… and was instrumental in defeating the British at the Battle of Saratoga… [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

00:46

… a victory that convinced the French to join the Americans against Great Britain. [French person holding a baguette]

00:51

Not too shabby.

00:52

So how did this all-American hero end up on America’s most-hated list? [Benedict Arnold under Hitler and Stalin on the hated list]

00:56

Well, for starters, he had a huge ego. [Benedict Arnold dancing in disco lights]

01:00

Arnold once got so upset about a promotion that he thought wasn’t promote-y enough,

01:04

he threatened to quit the army… [Brigadier General badge on Benedict Arnold]

01:06

…until General Washington finally agreed to

01:08

promote him from Brigadier to Major General.

01:11

We guess "Major Pain in the Butt" wasn't a rank yet…

01:14

Arnold also didn’t always play well with others. [Benedict Arnold flicks a child out of the sand pit]

01:18

He was just as likely to fight with his Continental Commanders as he was with the

01:21

British.

01:22

General Horatio Gates hated Arnold so much, he minimized Benedict’s contributions at [Horatio Gates photoshopping Benedict out of his battle photo]

01:27

the Battle of Saratoga.

01:29

Benedict wasn’t exactly excited about that.

01:32

Guess their mother's never taught them to play nice. [Benedict Arnold punches Horatio Gates]

01:34

After receiving a second wound to his leg, Arnold needed some time to recuperate. [Arnold in hospital]

01:38

George Washington left Arnold in charge of defending Philadelphia while he got better.

01:42

Which…is kind of a big thing, if you ask us. [Arnold looking confused]

01:45

When we're recuperating, we don't even want to change the channel on the TV, much less [Guy doesn't want to move from the sofa]

01:49

defend an entire state…

01:51

Anyway.

01:52

It was in the City of Brotherly Love that Arnold fell for a woman named Peggy Shippen.

01:55

Peggy introduced Arnold to her family – all of whom were hardcore British loyalists. [People wearing clothes covered in the British flag]

02:00

Seriously, these people probably never missed an episode of Doctor Who.

02:03

Which is when the rebel Benedict Arnold’s life started taking a turn for the treasonous. [Dino pointing at a blackboard]

02:07

Either out of love for Peggy or hatred for his fellow [Arnold giving Peggy flowers]

02:10

American commanders…

02:12

… Benedict Arnold decided to become a British spy. [Arnold wearing a spy costume]

02:14

In letters supposedly written for his wife…

02:16

… Arnold would pass along key information about Continental's troop and supply movements. Sneaky, sneaky... [Letter containing secret information]

02:23

And in 1780, when Benedict took command of the Continental Fort at West Point… [Arnold is handed the keys for the fort]

02:27

… he immediately turned around and agreed to hand the keys over to the British for 20,000 [British guy buys the keys]

02:32

pounds.

02:33

Fortunately for the Americans, Britain’s top spy, and Benedict’s co-conspirator,

02:36

was captured while he was carrying letters from Benedict detailing the plot. [Guy in a horse and wagon is stopped]

02:41

Silly Benedict…that's why you should always Snapchat your nefarious plans. [Bars appear]

02:45

Arnold fled for the British lines, where he became a general and led attacks on his former [Arnold screaming and running to British flags]

02:49

teammates.

02:50

Unfortunately for Benedict, the British lost the war. [British soldiers explode]

02:53

He moved to England, but never received the money he’d been promised. [Arnold begging on the streets]

02:56

He lived a hard life before dying in London in 1801.

02:59

Meanwhile, over here, calling someone a “Benedict Arnold” became shorthand for “traitor.” [Baseball fans look angry]

03:04

And over 200 years later, he still sits near the top of the all-time backstabbers in history.

03:09

We can only hope Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't succumb to the same fate. [Benedict Cumberbatch with a halo]

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