There were many arguments that needed to be taken into account before deciding whether it was a good idea to establish an American Empire.
Among the pros, we find the fact that an American Empire would most likely mean increased natural resources to support industrial pursuits. Moreover, it would also mean a larger size and reach for the country, which would facilitate trade. Finally, an empire would bring prestige to the country.
In terms of the cons, we would have to consider the fact that a larger population would require more services and would have more needs to fulfill. Moreover, establishing an empire might make Americans appear too ambitious and dismissive of local people.