A loyal Benedict Arnold's political prospects?

Assuming he never turns traitor, what are Benedict Arnold's political prospects within the United States? He's so reviled in US history that it's hard to judge what he was actually like as a man. He'll have a military career at least equal Washington's so is the Presidency out of the question? A seat in Congress seems assured at minimum if he rides on his legacy alone.
 
in order for that to happen, you need to change how he gets treated by washington and the rest, that change alone would create butterflies
 
Arnold had serious people issues. I can't see him as a politician, and besides there are too many Founding Fathers in his way. OTOH, he might have had a shot as governor of his home state of Connecticut. Certainly post-ARW there were no real army jobs for him. Unless Washington wanted him for his SecWar.
 

Driftless

Donor
He was an undeniably physically brave man, but somewhat volatile. Maybe not the best prospect for being a politico in the formative days of the US government. Perhaps if his first wife (Margaret) had lived longer, he doesn't connect with Peggy Shippen, which ultimately led to his switching allegiance.

Anthony Wayne (another impetuous man) found a useful role in the greatly reduced US Army. Maybe Arnold as well?
 
Assuming he never turns traitor, what are Benedict Arnold's political prospects within the United States? He's so reviled in US history that it's hard to judge what he was actually like as a man. He'll have a military career at least equal Washington's so is the Presidency out of the question? A seat in Congress seems assured at minimum if he rides on his legacy alone.


I can see him as a potential Secretary of War.
 
What about Ambassador to Great Britain? Working with the Federalist party as a Vice President, nomination?
 
What about Ambassador to Great Britain? Working with the Federalist party as a Vice President, nomination?

IDK. A LOT of Founding Fathers really seemed to take an instant disliking to Arnold. They seemed to trust Washington well enough, but worried about Arnold should anything have happened to George. It appears they were right.:rolleyes:
 
I thought he was mostly loyal OTL, apart from a brief rebellious spell? :p

I could see you feeling that way, guv'nah!:D

Seriously, Arnold was the proverbial whore-in-a-church within British circles following Major John Andre's capture, trial, and hanging.:mad:
 
After the capture of Quebec, Arnold leads an expedition which eventually succeeds in capturing Halifax (after British forces withdraw to fight the French-Spanish Armada of 1779) but is unfortunately killed in the attempt. The grateful inhabitants of Nova Scotia [OTL Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and northern Maine] rename the 15th state (after Canada, the 14th) Benedictia in his honour.

It's all there in the New Albion TL Part 10 https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=350081&highlight=Benedictia&page=2
 
i wrote up something like this for my ASB ATL after asking a similar question here a long time ago. basically, with a POD of Horatio Gates being killed on the first day of Saratoga, Arnold experiences greater earlier successes but is still passed over for promotion until 1780 when Washington insists that his deeds be recognized after Charles Lee is dismissed. Arnold doesn't feel snubbed by the Continental Congress and therefore stays on the Revolutionaries' side through to the end of the war. after the war ends, he's reassigned to the Ohio Territory to fight the local Amerindians (just an unfortunate reality of the era) until 1789. after that, he retires and becomes the first superintendent of West Point and eventually campaigns for the presidency in 1800 as a Federalist against Jefferson. he narrowly loses the election and passes away the following year as IOTL.
 

It's

Banned
Traitor?

Assuming he never turns traitor, what are Benedict Arnold's political prospects within the United States? He's so reviled in US history that it's hard to judge what he was actually like as a man. He'll have a military career at least equal Washington's so is the Presidency out of the question? A seat in Congress seems assured at minimum if he rides on his legacy alone.
Traitor? Depends on your perspective.
 
There is no perspective from which he wasn't a traitor.

Agreed. Even the British held him in contempt as a turncoat from his ideals and whose alliangence was bought.

Even without the treason, Arnold wasn't a people-person. I can't see him rising overly far in politics, at least for long. Maybe a congressional slot or a Governacy.

Perhaps he'd get the command of the tiny post-war American army, maybe 1000 men.

I find it likely he'd go back to commerce, and probably do well at it. He was intelligent and industrious. He rebuilt his family fortunes after his father drank away their money.
 
Assuming he never turns traitor, what are Benedict Arnold's political prospects within the United States? (snipped).

He goes as far as Washington will take him, no farther. And while popular with the soldiers and public (before West Point), in the 1770, 80, 90s, that's not enough.

As others have stated, he was not well liked (and apparently had the ability to rub even those whose beliefs and objectives were in line with his, wrong...) by the Congressional or Army leadership, and had a habit for conducting his non-military life in a way to further anger the right people.

Even Washington's inter circle couldn't stand him.
 

Driftless

Donor
i wrote up something like this for my ASB ATL after asking a similar question here a long time ago. basically, with a POD of Horatio Gates being killed on the first day of Saratoga, Arnold experiences greater earlier successes but is still passed over for promotion until 1780 when Washington insists that his deeds be recognized after Charles Lee is dismissed. Arnold doesn't feel snubbed by the Continental Congress and therefore stays on the Revolutionaries' side through to the end of the war..

Arnold needed a staff officer as "fixer" to keep him from being his own worst enemy.

Could Arnold have replace Lee at Monmouth? I realize that Washingtons preferred choice was Lafayette, and Lee was only picked from seniority.

Instead, put Lee at Philadelphia and Arnold at Monmouth. Lee quit the fight too early and was famously verbally ripped to shreds by Washington on the battlefield, for his retreat. From a personality standpoint, it's unlikely that Arnold would have retreated under the same circumstance. That change in leadership and action could have moved Monmouth from a draw to a clear American victory. At the very least, Armold cements his reputation as a fighter.
 
Arnold needed a staff officer as "fixer" to keep him from being his own worst enemy.

Could Arnold have replace Lee at Monmouth? I realize that Washingtons preferred choice was Lafayette, and Lee was only picked from seniority.

Instead, put Lee at Philadelphia and Arnold at Monmouth. Lee quit the fight too early and was famously verbally ripped to shreds by Washington on the battlefield, for his retreat. From a personality standpoint, it's unlikely that Arnold would have retreated under the same circumstance. That change in leadership and action could have moved Monmouth from a draw to a clear American victory. At the very least, Arnold cements his reputation as a fighter.

Between the horrendous heat (+110 F!) and superior British numbers, outright Patriot victory was never in the cards, short of Clinton having the worst day of his life. Monmouth was notable mostly for the appearance of a Continental Army able to stand toe-to-toe with the British Regulars, thanks to the hard training they received the previous winter by Von Steuben.:cool:
 

Driftless

Donor
Between the horrendous heat (+110 F!) and superior British numbers, outright Patriot victory was never in the cards, short of Clinton having the worst day of his life. Monmouth was notable mostly for the appearance of a Continental Army able to stand toe-to-toe with the British Regulars, thanks to the hard training they received the previous winter by Von Steuben.:cool:

Perhaps that's so, but Lee's retreat pretty well pooched the opportunity, I believe.
 

Driftless

Donor
Perhaps that's so, but Lee's retreat pretty well pooched the opportunity, I believe.

iirc, wasn't it Lafayette who covered Lee's ass as they retreated?

I believe Washington added the remaining un-routed men of Lee's forces to Lafayette's command and they were able to resume the fight.

IF Arnold had been at Monmouth, in place of Lee, I think it's less likely that he's more likely to hold the original ground than Lee, and not squander the situation. Even if the battle as a whole isn't a clear victory, Arnold probably adds some laurels.
 
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