When you hear, "Benedict Arnold" you think he is a total traitor and spy to America. Maybe he was not the wisest person in making decisions, but he was one of America's bravest leaders. He sacrificed his life for others during many battles. He injured his leg multiple times for others. One of the most intense and interesting battle that he led, was the Battle of Saratoga.
Hurtful attitudes can be traced back to his childhood. Benedict Arnold grew up in Connecticut with five siblings. One of his sister died of yellow fever at a young age. His father was a very good business man until he began to drink and soon lost his entire fortune. That said, Benedict couldn't go to school. Instead of going to school, Benedict became a merchant and smuggler. He was accused of making money for himself and being greedy. It is possible that these events at childhood impacted his decisions as a future traitor.
Most spies and traitors need to be trusted before they start traitoring and doing bad things like that. Benedict Arnold built trust when he led the Americans in the Battle of Saratoga, which they won. He was their hero! Until everyone started to not care that much about Benedict Arnold. He was so frustrated and felt so disrespected that he started sharing America's secrets to the British. Later, he became a spy on his own country! Benedict Arnold knew he was trusted by the Americans, so this was the time where he was going to betray them.
His wife, Peggy Shippen, also helped him by passing secret letters in invisible ink and secret codes. One of his main missions was to capture George Washington.
Benedict Arnold and George Washington weren't the best of friends. In fact, they weren't even friends at all. George Washington wanted to have Benedict Arnold kidnapped because he betrayed his country and did horrible things. On the other hand, one of Arnold's mission was to capture George Washington. They both failed. Like I said, they were not the best of friends.
Benedict Arnold failed in being a spy. After the Battle of Saratoga, it was time for the British to win the last battle in American Revolution, the Battle of Yorktown. The Americans won The Battle of Yorktown instead of the British. That's when everyone hated Benedict Arnold. He was all on his own! He had betrayed the Americans, tried to help the British and failed, and left his own family. He will go down as one of the most hated Americans of all time.