The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our history, but how well do you really know the stories that made America? We'll take you to the events, the times and the people that shaped our nation. And we'll show you how our history affected them, their families and affects you today. Hosted by Lindsay Graham (not the Senator). From Wondery, the network behind American Scandal, Tides of History, American Innovations and more.You can binge new seasons of American History Tellers early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
https://wondery.com/shows/american-history-tellers/?utm_source=rss
episode 4: The Walker Affair | Nicaragua’s American President
In 1855, William Walker faced a criminal trial in the United States for his illegal, and unsuccessful, invasion of Mexico. But he emerged from court fully acquitted, and became a divisive national hero in the tumultuous political climate of antebellum America. Emboldened by his popularity, Walker set his sights on a new prize: Nicaragua, which had become a critical transit route between east and west.
William Walker and his small army of mercenaries arrived in Nicaragua in the midst of a civil war. Walker seized several key cities, then maneuvered his way to the presidency. To hold on to power he turned to brutal tactics, making enemies of the Nicaraguans, neighboring states, and one very powerful American — transit tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, whose plans to build a canal in Nicaragua were derailed by Walker’s invasion.
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