Challenge: Benedict Arnold a hero of the revolution

It would actually be a lot easier just to have him die shortly after Saratoga. His contributions to the Revolution by that point are already plenty enough for him to be remembered as a hero. Like Mugabe, his legacy could have been a lot better if he had just died sooner.
 

The Sandman

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Two ways. First, the invasion of Canada doesn't go as horribly wrong as it did OTL. Second, Gates does something so obviously stupid that his buddies in Congress can't save his career earlier than in OTL, with the result that Arnold gets the credit he felt he deserved after Saratoga. This includes Gates' OTL job.

Arnold would still probably be an arrogant bastard, but he wouldn't have the affronts to his pride and general competence that in he suffered in OTL, which were the main reason why he went over to the Brits (aside from the cash, of course).
 
In H Beam Piper's short story Crossroads of Destiny Arnold was the first US President although there are no details why. Washington had been killed at the Battle of Germantown so he was only a minor hero to Americans. I suppose that Arnold remained loyal to the cause and managed to pip people like Franklin in the first Presidential election
 
If you do a search I have a timeline where Arnold stays loyal, is a hero, and goes on to found the Arnold dynasty of the Kingdom of America. I never finished it though.
 

CalBear

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It would actually be a lot easier just to have him die shortly after Saratoga. His contributions to the Revolution by that point are already plenty enough for him to be remembered as a hero. Like Mugabe, his legacy could have been a lot better if he had just died sooner.

Absolutely. If he'd died a month after Saratoga there would be cities named for him across the U.S.
 
The title says it all. Make Benedict Arnold a hero of the revolution and discuss the repercussions.
This is a bit disgenuous; Arnold is a hero of the Revolution. He even has his own grave/tomb at West Point. He's just also a blackguard as well.

I assume you meant that you want Arnold to be only a hero, in which case the others have made good points. More cities and boys named after him, another general of good repute during the revolution (though actually there are other generals mostly forgotten now, that's one possibility), and unless he gets high office not much else.
 
Forgive my poor choice of wording. You're correct that I was thinking along the lines of Arnold never being put the position where he was driven to treason, either by an earlier death or by removing some of the political slights.
 
Somehow, I can't help thinking that in a TL where Britain wins, B.A. stays loyal to the rebellion and thus still ends up a villain in the history books.
 
You know, if this Anglo-American lovefest continues in the next few centuries, he's going to be seen as a hero no matter what side of the Atlantic you're from.
 
You know, if this Anglo-American lovefest continues in the next few centuries, he's going to be seen as a hero no matter what side of the Atlantic you're from.
OR ...

As a Huge Villain, Depending on Whether an Independent USA is Considered Necessary to The Process ...

Revisionist History's a Bitch, No?

:p
 
OR ...

As a Huge Villain, Depending on Whether an Independent USA is Considered Necessary to The Process ...
Villain at the moment. During the last US presidential election Sen. John F. Kerry frequently called companies and chief executives "Benedict Arnolds" if they move jobs and operations overseas to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
 

Enji_Daimyo

Banned
I know I am still new here. This has great potential to be a winner. As for him being a hero., you might want to focus on another POD. It might be more profitable to have JPJ's plan to invade england given the go ahead. Have Arnold lead the attack, and make it sucessful.
 
At the climactic point of the Battle of Saratoga he is killed by the shot which hit his leg. He dies a hero and martyr of the ARW.

At the climactic point of...the shot missed entirely, Washington prevails on the Continental Congress to give Arnold a rank and command worthy of his deed, Arnold never meets a certain pretty young Tory in Philadelphia and is one of the first presidents of the USA.
 
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