Question

The United States was founded as a democracy, in the spirit of self-governance and liberty. Evaluate the extent to which these ideals motivated the United States during this conflict, from the Filipino point of view.

Answer 1

Though the United States of America was built on these principles, its belief in Manifest Destiny also led to several wars with Native Americans that resulted to their removal from their land.  Having consolidated their control over their country, they now turned their attention internationally as European countries have been acquiring colonies in Africa and Asia.  They did not want to be left behind and eventually wars in Cuba gave them the opportunity to establish their own colonies.