In the mid-19th century, while America's manifest destiny was pushing westward, a small group of ambitious expansionists looked southward to Central America, seeking to establish America's first overseas empire. Empire by Invitation by Michel Gobat tells the fascinating story of William Walker and his fellow filibusters who migrated to Nicaragua with dreams of creating a tropical 'empire of liberty' based on American-style democracy.
What makes this historical account so compelling is how Walker initially enjoyed strong local support from Nicaraguan liberals who hoped American-style democracy and progress would spread across their land. Walker's group of about 12,000 colonists—including moral reformers and idealists—arrived with promises of liberation from ruling conservatives, hoping to establish a democratic state by force. This wasn't the typical imperial narrative of slaveholders extending human bondage; instead, Walker and his followers were mostly Northerners who genuinely believed in spreading liberal ideals.
The story takes a dramatic turn as Walker's ambitious crusade began with noble intentions but quickly devolved into a reign of terror. After two years, his experiment in forced democracy collapsed, and Walker was driven out of power. This transformation from liberator to tyrant serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of foreign intervention and the unintended consequences of imposing democratic ideals through military force.
Perhaps most importantly, Gobat reveals how Walker's imperial adventure fundamentally shaped Latin American identity. The fear of a 'northern colossus' precipitated a hemispheric alliance against the United States and gave birth to the concept of Latin America as a distinct cultural and political bloc. The anti-U.S. backlash inspired by Walker's actions foreshadowed similar sentiments that would continue for generations.
This meticulously researched history challenges our understanding of American imperialism and offers crucial insights into the complex origins of inter-American relations. Whether you're a student of history or simply fascinated by forgotten chapters of American expansion, Empire by Invitation provides a thought-provoking look at a pivotal moment that continues to influence international relations today.
