North American Immigration to Honduras During the War Against William Walker (1856)

Abstract

The year 1856 marked the pinnacle of the war against William Walker and filibusterism in Nicaragua, whose threat had ramifications throughout the isthmus. However, the threat to the identity and independence of the newly formed Central American states also came from powers such as Great Britain, which sought to impose its will over the region, with Honduras serving as a barometer and clashing with its rival, the United States. A war of words erupted between the powers, and both attempted to resolve their disputes—and the case of Honduras—through diplomacy. It was in this atmosphere that the government of Santos Guardiola began its administration of the country, and his psychological stance toward the filibusters led him to take actions perceived as hostile by the United States. Honduras’s interest in mining, promoted by William Wells who visited the country before Guardiola’s arrival, inspired many Americans to seek fortune and/or a better life, with many choosing to risk coming to the country amid the war against William Walker. How they were treated would reflect Guardiola’s attitude toward Americans, filibusterism, and immigration as a state policy. This contradicted the image portrayed by the leading media outlet of the time, the New York Herald, regarding Honduras and Guardiola’s government.