What was the Ostend Manifesto's proposal concerning Cuba?

The Ostend Manifesto proposed that the United States should seek to purchase Cuba from Spain for $20 million. This was articulated during a time when many U.S. leaders believed that the acquisition of Cuba would expand American territory and influence, especially in the context of Manifest Destiny. Advocates of this idea viewed Cuba as a strategically valuable and economically beneficial addition to the United States, particularly considering its sugar plantations and potential for expansion of slavery into new territories. The manifesto suggested that if Spain refused to sell Cuba, the U.S. should consider taking it by force, reflecting the aggressive expansionist mindset of some American politicians at the time.