What were the justifications for the US imperialism Why did some argue that the US was hypocritical in taking over new territories?

Justifications for U.S. Imperialism included the belief in Manifest Destiny, which held that Americans were destined to expand across the continent, and the notion of bringing civilization, democracy, and economic opportunity to other regions. Proponents argued that U.S. intervention was a moral duty to uplift "lesser" cultures. Critics, however, pointed out the hypocrisy in promoting democracy and self-determination while annexing territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines, where the local populations were denied the same rights and freedoms the U.S. claimed to champion. This contradiction highlighted the tension between American ideals and the reality of imperialist practices.