The U.S. assisted Cuba in the Spanish American War so that they would be able to keep their financial investments. The Monroe Doctrine was truly driven by the Americans desire for economic and political power. The American people wanted to take over Latin American economy because it would improve theirs and gain them a lot of money. They also claimed that they were helping the Latin Americans. The people of the United States justified imperialism the same way the Europeans did; They claimed that they were improving the Latin American lifestyle and culture. Americans most definitely viewed Latin Americans as inferior.⁷ Senator Alfred Beveridge: "Today we are raising more than we can consume. Today we are making more than we can use... Therefore we must find new markets for our produce, new occupation for our capital, new work for our labor... Ah! As our commerce spreads, the flag of liberty will circle the globe and the highway of the ocean - carrying trade to all mankind - will be guarded by the guns of the republic. And as their thunders salute the flag, benighted (ignorant) peoples will know that the voice of liberty is speaking, at last, for them... that civilization is dawning at last, for them."³