How did Benedict Arnold helped the Americans with?

Answer

He was an American Revolutionary War Hero and commander at Fort Ticonderoga, the Invasion of Canada and the Battle of Saratoga.

It seems that the first answer forgot the whole treason traitor incident. Arnold while a brave and yes possibly overlooked officer he sold-out America by attempting to provide the British with the plans to West Point which if taken by the British would have allowed them to cut-off New England from the rest of the colonies. The invasion of Canada was also a failure of biblical proportions. He did broke, broken, hated, and basically alone.

Addition:

Little known is the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in the Fall of 1776. General Benidict Arnold led a rag-tag flotilla of gun boats to hold the British off and prevent the recapture of Fort Ticonderoga before the winter set in.

This prevented the British from penetrating from the north and cutting off the New England Colonies; considered the heart of the rebellion. That combined with victory at Saratoga in 1777, also spearheaded by General Arnold's bravery, ended the British Northern Campaign; saving the Revolution.

In WWII, the US had a policy of naming Aircraft Carriers after famous battles: Saratoga, Ticonderoga, Yorktown, Lexington, Bunker Hill.....

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said something to the effect that the US should have named a carrier "Valcour Island", because that was considered, by the British, a turning point in the war. Of course, due to the stygma of Benidict Arnold's treason, anything solely accociated with him is tarnished in the eyes of most Americans.

However Arnolds treason far outweighed the good he had done. If his plan was successful, the British would have taken West Point and New England would have been separated from the other colonies. Arnold's treasonous acts were deeply influenced by his Tory wife. Arnold died a broken and embittered man who was hated by the Americans and not trusted by the British.

First answer by USCitizen. Last edit by Poly-Sci Dr.. Contributor trust: 8 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 42 [recommend question].