Boot Monument: General Benedict Arnold’s and the Battle of Saratoga
Introduction
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This monument honors Arnold's act of service to the nation which occurred at Saratoga National Historical Park

Benedict Arnold is most famous for his betrayal of the Americans during the Revolutionary War.

The monument is located in Saratoga National Historical Park

Backstory and Context
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Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. Arnold worked as a pharmacist when he was young and served in the military during the French and Indian War. During the time of the American Revolution, Arnold decided to join the colonial army. Arnold knew that the contracts that bound his soldiers to his army were soon to expire. Needing a victory to hold his army together, Arnold decided to launch a surprise attack in Quebec City. He suffered a leg injury during the time. Hundreds of American soldiers died in the attack and the British maintained control of Canada for the duration of the war.
Benedict Arnold helped to delay a British attack in New York by attacking British soldiers which slowed their advance into the winter. This action saved many Americans and might have altered the outcome of the American Revolutionary War. Arnold was considered a hero to the American colonists for these actions, but he believed that his genius and daring was not recognized enough.
After being injured at Saratoga, Arnold took a position as the military governor of Philadelphia in 1778. This is when Arnold started abusing his powers as governor. Benedict Arnold thought he was not being promoted fast enough during his time and decided to deal with the British secretly. Arnold was also influenced by his mounting debt that was the result of a lavish lifestyle that reflected his less-than-humble assessment of his place in history. He soon made a deal to sell information to the British. After moving to England and serving with the British, Arnold began to regret his decision, especially after the American victory was sealed by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
Sources
The Boot Monument: How America Remembers Its Most Infamous Traitor. Amusing Planet. . Accessed February 25, 2019. https://www.amusingplanet.com/2018/11/the-boot-monument-how-america-remembers.html.
Lewis, Susan Ingalls. Benedict Arnold’s Boot (Part 1). New York Rediscovered. . Accessed February 26, 2019. https://sites.newpaltz.edu/nyrediscovered/2013/10/17/benedict-arnolds-boot-part-1/.