Richard Bell Presents: Tragedy and Treason | Livestream Zoom

Course Description:

In this two-part offering, Dr. Richard Bell explores the lives of a pair of fascinating figures of the American Revolution: Thomas Paine, the author of "Common Sense," and Benedict Arnold, the most famous turncoat in American history.

Mar. 3: Tragedy - Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine’s meteoric rise to celebrity status during the American Revolution was equaled by his dramatic fall from grace in the decades afterwards. Once lionized as our most relatable and revolutionary founding father, Paine died a pariah—too radical and uncompromising
for the cautious new country he had called into being.

Mar. 10: Treason - Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold, a skilled officer in George Washington’s Continental Army, began secretly communicating with British intelligence agents, giving them insider information and dramatically defecting to their side in return for a mountain of cash. Dr. Bell examines the reasons for this
treason, and the larger problems of betrayal and desertion that dogged the Continental Army throughout the war.