Want to learn the ideas in Valiant Ambition better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick here.
Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.
Video Summaries of Valiant Ambition
We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on Valiant Ambition, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Nathaniel Philbrick.
1-Page Summary of Valiant Ambition
Overview
Nathaniel Philbrick’s book focuses on Benedict Arnold and George Washington, as well as the American Revolution.
Benedict Arnold was a courageous soldier who fought with the Americans in the Revolutionary War. He helped delay British forces and prevented them from reaching the Hudson River valley, which would have separated New England from other colonies. Arnold also managed to win at Freeman’s Farm, which contributed to General John Burgoyne’s defeat at Saratoga. That battle encouraged France into war with Britain, which made it possible for America to win independence from Great Britain.
Arnold was a brilliant general, but he was difficult to work with because his actions were driven by ambition and greed. The Continental Congress kept delaying his promotion even though it desperately needed good generals.
Arnold was frustrated and disillusioned after an injury forced him out of the army. He was also unhappy with his finances, which led to a divorce from his Loyalist sympathizer wife Peggy Shippen in 1779. His resentment turned into treason when he decided to betray West Point for money by becoming its commander. However, he failed at that because the plot was discovered before it could be carried out.
Arnold is often characterized as a traitor in contrast to the other founders. However, Arnold’s vacillation and greed reflect many of the colonists at that time. He began his career smuggling goods into America without paying taxes or duties, which was very common among Americans who fought for independence. The American Revolution had moments of glory interspersed with everyday pettiness and failure—much like Arnold’s character.
Key Takeaways
George Washington was a poor military commander at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The British were hesitant to attack, because their sympathies were with the Americans.
The American Revolution was also a civil war in which colonists fought each other over loyalty issues. If Benedict Arnold had been granted a naval commission, he might never have become a traitor.
The cautiousness of Horatio Gates and the eagerness of Benedict Arnold combined to give the American army a victory at Freeman’s Farm.
The Continental Congress was ineffective and petty. Their failure to appreciate Benedict Arnold’s contributions led him to commit treason. Arnold’s marriage to Loyalist Peggy Shippen was a major factor in his decision to become a British agent.
The American Revolution was successful because of the revelation that Benedict Arnold had betrayed his country.
Key Takeaway 1: Especially at the beginning of the war, George Washington was an erratic military commander.
Washington made many poor decisions as commander in chief. One example is during the Battle of Brandywine, he ordered his forces to cross a river and attack the British. He changed his mind and decided to stay on defense, but then changed it again and told them to cross back over the river. Washington didn’t believe accurate intelligence reports about Howe’s army size or location, which led him to be defeated by Howe at Brandywine.
Washington was not a good general during the Revolutionary War because he performed poorly in the French and Indian War. In that conflict, Washington led an attack on a party of French soldiers who were outnumbered by his troops. He killed many of those Frenchmen but expected to be attacked himself after doing so. Because he thought this might happen, he built Fort Necessity, which was located in boggy grasslands surrounded by woods and hills that made it easy for the enemy to attack him. The fort wasn’t big enough to hold all 300 men under his command anyway, so it didn’t matter where it was placed anyway.
