Analysis+2

In the fourth chapter, Machiavelli speaks about betrayal of a leader towards a principality or prince in order to gain more power. Machiavelli believes that a prince should choose a minister rather than a noble to assist him in ruling the principality.

An example of betrayal in our nations history is that of Benedict Arnold. Benedict Arnold was a general of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He was seen as a great general to the country and was successful in many victories. Arnold successfully captured Fort Ticonderoga, was victorious at the Batlle of Valcour Island, and was also victorious at the Battle of Saratoga. After his many victories, Arnold was promoted to Major General. However, Arnold was not honored for his many victories and the Continental Congress gave credit to other generals in the military. Arnold was displeased with this as well as America's new alliance with France. Benedict Arnold then committed one of the gratest acts of treason in American history. Benedict Arnold made a plan to assist British forces while still serving as a general to the American army. He planned to gain command of the American fort at West Point and surrender it over to the British. Fortunately, Arnold's plan failed when documents that contained his secret plans were found by the American army.

Another example of betrayal is the thrity-seventh president of the United States, Richard Nixon. Nixon betrayed the country by lying about the Watergate Scandal. In 1972 a group of men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate hotel. These men stole a great deal of important information from the democratic party. The news of the break-in quickly reached the American government as well as President Nixon. Nixon and his men attempted to cover-up that they had any notion of the scandal. After many investigations by the FBI, Nixon was caught in his lies. It turned out that the Watergate scandal was just one of the many illegal actions taken and authorized by Nixon and his staff. Some of these actions included campaign fraud, illegal break-ins, and wiretapping. Nixon was forced to hand over all of the information that he had and all of the tapes that had been recorded. Then ten days later Nixon resigned from office knowing that the Senate and the House of Representatives were ready to have him impeached.

Benedict Arnold and Richard Nixon are both examples of betrayal to our country. Both men betrayed the country in order to gain more power for themselves. In Machiavelli's terms, both leaders betrayed their principality in order to gain more power for themselves.

Bibliography:
Source A: Wikipedia Online. “Benedict Arnold.” __Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.__ 2007. 12/7/07  Source B: Wikipedia Online. “Richard Nixon.” __Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.__ 2007. 12/7/07  Source C: Wikipedia Online. “Watergate Scandal.” __Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.__ 2007. 12/7/07 

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