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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.