That Time an American Lawyer Took Over Nicaragua | The Life & Times of William Walker

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Footnotes:

0:26 Shame on anyone listening to this through poor quality speakers and not getting to hear this sound design

1:15 You might rightly ask "How could he pay for such an army after being unemployed for a while?" and clearly you were never a 14-year-old college grad. You see, all he has to do is sell the land in Sonora before he takes it from Mexico! Unfortunately he invaded the wrong state.

1:54 Walker's army literally never set foot in Sonora. Just thought I should mention

2:08 There was an incident in Canada, google the Neutrality Act of 1794 for more info

2:21 I feel like I'm doing Jon Townsend dirty putting him on the gung-ho manifest destiny jury. I'll do my best to make this right some day with more positive Townsend representation.

2:34 And this time Walker was careful enough to be formally recognized as a colonist who just happens to be bearing arms, and definitely not a mercenary

2:42 And apparently that paid off because this time when the US got the news, President Pierce said "Aw, good for him!" and recognized his government as legitimate

2:42 And at first, some parts of Central America were actually on board with this! San Salvador was cheering him on, and the outed Honduran president Jose Cabañas came to Walker for help, but amazingly Walker turned him down even when he had Honduras handed to him on a silver platter! I legitimately do not understand this decision, maybe he thought he'd be pushing his luck too far but that really doesn't seem to be his style

4:12 When Walker left New York to go on tour, his co-conspirator allegedly told him "We'll meet again at Philippi". He must've been half-way through reading Julius Caesar because Cassius and Brutus DIED at Philippi and I cannot think of a more foreboding way to part with someone

4:27 They actually stop in Mobile Alabama first and the cops tell the authorities to inspect the boat for a gang of wanted criminals. Well the cops inspect the boat... and they go “Y’all seem like decent folks to me, bon voyage!” I'm telling you there's so much good stuff I had to cut from this episode, but there's a titillating (if tipped in Walker's favor) book on his life here: https://archive.org/details/filibuste...


Music:

0:00 Kevin MacLeod - The Parting
0:34 It's pretty well tucked into the background here, but this is Ayreon - Day Nine Playground
0:40 Kevin MacLeod - Griphop
0:43 Kevin MacLeod - Hidden Past
0:54 John Philip Sousa - Across the Danube
2:43 John Philip Sousa - The Honored Dead
3:45 John Philip Sousa - Resumption
4:53 Kevin MacLeod - Netherworld Shanty
5:51 Colossal Trailer Music - Barbary Jack
5:59 Kevin MacLeod - Beach Party
6:08 Colossal Trailer Music - Barbary Jack
6:17 Kevin MacLeod - Netherworld Shanty
6:30 Tchaikovsky - Op. 40
7:28 Kevin MacLeod - Tango de Manzana