Why did Benedict Arnold defect?

[LBJ Revivalist]

Why did Benedict Arnold defect to the British?

[dead0man]

ego?

[patrick1]

He felt he didnt get the credit he deserved in Saratoga campaign and his wife was a social climbing spendthrift.

[Dr. Cynic]

He felt he didnt get the credit he deserved in Saratoga campaign and his wife was a social climbing spendthrift.

You win.

[WillK]

Why did Benedict Arnold defect to the British?

Because he had become disgruntled with Congress and the leaders of the army and  lost faith in the cause.

[bullmoose88]

He felt he didnt get the credit he deserved in Saratoga campaign and his wife was a social climbing spendthrift.

Weren't the Shippens known Philadelphia loyalists as well?

[patrick1]

He felt he didnt get the credit he deserved in Saratoga campaign and his wife was a social climbing spendthrift.

Weren't the Shippens known Philadelphia loyalists as well?

Yes, she was a barely legal loyalist tart engaged in a lurid relationship with John Andre.  Kidding aside, this wasnt all her doing by any stretch but it was a contributing factor.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

From what I remember from 4th grade hsitory class, his wife was a loyalist.

[Dr. Cynic]

From what I remember from 4th grade hsitory class, his wife was a loyalist.

That's not the only reason though. He felt he was being given the shaft, and he actually had a case. Horatio Gates and Ethan Allen both underscored him in seperate engagements (Saratoga and Ft. Ticonderoga respectively). They took all the glory for themselves and didn't bother to mention him. Even when it came to the Battle of Quebec, everyone remembers the glorious death of the gallant Richard Montgomery, but no one (in his mind) cared about the wounds he, himself suffered. Arnold really was shafted over and over. It's unfair to say he didn't get a little push while jumping off the cliff.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Joseph Reed, the President (basically Governor) of PA had a big hand in it as well. After Saratoga, Washington was the only one who really valued and respected Arnold and Arnold felt he was his only ally as well. However, Reed essentially forced Washington to take a more aggressive approach in punishing Arnold for his war profiteering. Once reprimended by Washington, the last thing that kept him from going over, his loyalty to Washington, was severed by the perceived slight.