<span>The virtually ended trade between Europe and the Middle East for centuries. </span>
<span>Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) was an early American hero of the Revolutionary War (1775-83) who later became one of the most infamous traitors in U.S. history after he switched sides and fought for the British. At the outbreak of the war, Arnold participated in the capture of the British garrison of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. In 1776, he hindered a British invasion of New York at the Battle of Lake Champlain. The following year, he played a crucial role in bringing about the surrender of British General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga. Yet Arnold never received the recognition he thought he deserved. In 1779, he entered into secret negotiations with the British, agreeing to turn over the U.S. post at West Point in return for money and a command in the British army. The plot was discovered, but Arnold escaped to British lines. His name has since become synonymous with the word “traitor.”</span>
<em>The factors that caused Rome to plunge into civil wars and weakened the Republic were:
</em>
<u>Power and control</u>. Powerful Roman families desired to gain control at any cost. Assassinations were the order of the day. There were some Roman Emperors that lasted very few ruling the Empire. It debilitated the social structure of Rome.
<u>Ambition</u>. The Roman Empire was so ambitious. Its hunger for more territories made them always be involved in conquering wars. The Empire expansion reached so far Rome that in those far away places the Empire could not sustain its armies and their presence.
<u>Egotism</u>. Roman soldiers were more loyal to their commanders than the same Empire. This means that loyalty was to the person, the leader, more than Rome. Battles among troops started and this debilitated the Roma army.
<u>Killing</u>. Those differences and political control generated wars among the Romans and many people were killed.
<u>Patricians land</u>. There was a Land legislation to take land from the Patricians to give it to the Military men after sixteen years of service in the Roman Army. This was one of the reasons for the civil war.
<span>The 15th Amendment gave all men the right to vote and did not allow for discrimination of that right based upon race, skin color, or previous condition of being a slave or indentured servant. This was one of the 3 amendments passed as a direct effect of the Civil War.</span>
