In May 1778, a bunch of traitorous, violent, rebellious tax evaders swore an oath to give up citizenship in the greatest country on earth, instead of paying their fair share to an overseas government which was doing so much to protect them:
I do acknowledge the United States of America to be Free, Independent, and Sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great Britain; and I renounce, refute and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend the said United States, against the said King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents …
Background information from the U.S. National Park Service:
On May 7, Washington issued a General Order from headquarters urging that the oaths be administered promptly to officers of the 3rd and 4th New Jersey regiments. Many of these officers had now overcome their indignation and were ready to sign their allegiance to the new nation. Washington hoped others would follow the New Jersey example. The process began on May 12, 1778.
One man who swore that oath apparently was not very sincere about it:
To accomplish the work, Washington selected high-ranking generals to administer the oaths to the officer staff. Among those selected was Brigadier General Henry Knox, who would administer oaths to officers of the artillery and military stores. The site chosen to administer the oaths was the artillery park. Apparently, General Knox served as witness to many oaths taken by officers of the Continental Army. His signature appears on a similar oath of allegiance administered to Major General Benedict Arnold on May 30, 1778, also at the artillery park.
Homelanders and their enablers love to slap the label “Benedict Arnold” on ex-American renunciants, but it appears from this that the actual historical definition of “a Benedict Arnold” is a person who swears an oath of renunciation of their former country but then continues to demonstrate loyalty to that foreign former country over and above their loyalty to their new country.
