Thomas Jefferson said that all men have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (though Jefferson did not originally think of the last one). Keep in mind that by "men" he means white, well-off men, not women or slaves.
American imperialism revolved around more than just politics and economics and national self-interest. They also included notions of humanitarianism, morality, religion, and ideas of civilization
The French Revolution is important because it was a major change in government; it brought an end to absolute monarchy and a start to a representative government.
