What was the main argument of the anti-imperialists in opposition to expansion?

The main argument of the anti-imperialists was that imperialism contradicted American values of liberty and self-determination. This perspective was rooted in the fundamental principles of democracy and freedom that were championed in the United States' founding documents. Anti-imperialists believed that expansion into overseas territories would undermine the values of individual rights and autonomy that the nation was established upon. They argued that imposing rule over distant lands and peoples who had not consented to American governance was hypocritical, especially given the historical context of the United States’ fight for independence from British imperial rule. This sentiment was articulated through various public figures and organizations during debates over policies like the annexation of the Philippines and the outcome of the Spanish-American War. The emphasis on moral and ethical considerations, as reflected in the resistance against imperialism, highlights a critical debate during that period about the direction of American identity and its role in the world.