Additional Materials

Timeline

If you did not know before about Walker’s story and what he did in Nicaragua, did it surprise you? If so, why?
What are your thoughts on the positive reactions to Walker’s filibusters when he returned home? How about the negative reactions from his enemies?
What does Walker’s treatment of Nicaragua as essentially a safehaven for slavery say about American attitudes towards Latin American countries at the time?
What does the fact that Walker attempted to design a “new” nation out of Nicaragua (with its own flag, anthem, presidency, and so on) reveal about Walker’s ambition? What does it reveal about his character and attitude toward Nicaragua?
From reading what his supporters thought of Walker, do you think that a cult of personality was built around Walker?
Do you think that American cultural ideas such as Manifest Destiny influenced Walker, and if so how? Or was he an exception?
What does Walker’s lack of background in military or politics reveal about class and opportunity in the U.S. in the 1850’s?
What does the lack of significant U.S. government intervention in Walker’s filibuster of Nicaragua reveal about the U.S. government’s priorities? Was this a sort of passive acceptance of Walker?
What does Walker’s gravesite being in the same place he was executed say ulimately about his legacy?
Are filibusters like Walker purely a thing of the past? Can certain imperialistic actions recently or today be considered “filibustering?”

1. Tennessee State Library and Archives: This is an archive of various images relating to Walker’s career from the Tennesee State Library and Archives. Several of these images were used for this project. “Grey-Eyed Man of Destiny.” Tennesee State Library and Archives. https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/walker/index.htm. Accessed May 2, 2021.

2. The Tennessee Encyclopedia Article on William Walker: This article was written for the official state of Tennessee’s online encyclopedia, and is about Walker’s life and career. C. Finch, Richard. “William Walker.” Tennesse Encyclopedia. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/william-walker/. Acessed May 2, 2021.

3. OmniAtlas Filibuster War Interactive Map and Timeline: This resource is a map and timeline that not only include the Filibuster War, but also other important historical events that occured between the U.S. and Latin America during the mid-19th century. “North America: 1857 Filibuster War.” OmniAtlas. https://omniatlas.com/maps/north-america/18570402/. Accessed May 2, 2021.

4. Article on the National Monument of Costa Rica: This article highlights the National Monument of Costa Rica and its relation to Walker. Miller, Michael. “The National Monument of Costa Rica.” Q Costa Rica, November 27, 2017, https://qcostarica.com/the-national-monument-of-costa-rica/. Acessed May 2, 2021.

5. Article on Other Filibusters: This article looks at the general history of filibustering, not just focusing on Walker. Cabrera Geserick, Marco. “Conquest Without War: U.S. Expansionism, the Age of Revolution, and the First Filibuster.” Age of Revolutions, January 19, 2021, https://ageofrevolutions.com/2021/01/19/conquest-without-war-u-s-expansionism-the-age-of-revolution-and-the-first-filibuster/. Acessed May 2, 2021.