Stephen F. Austin was so inclined.
Philippine annexation would be peaceful if nobody resisted. THEY WERE OPPOSED BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO RULE THEMSELVES.
EMPIRE
Montezuma wanted a rich, powerful empire. He wanted lots of power over other Mexico cities.
He wanted to create a new Roman Empire.
He wanted to carry his father plan.
Because they needed resources for industries
The Mexican American War had its supporters and people opposed to the war such as Abraham Lincoln. Many people opposed the war as being unnecessary. Or, based on the annexation of Texas, opposed it because Texas had every chance to be a slave state. For this exact reason, the new Secretary of State Calhoun wanted Texas and the sure way to acquire it was to beat the Mexicans in a war.
With respect, Hitler's key territorial aim was to create a vast German empire in Eastern Europe. (There's no evidence that he wanted to revive the Holy Roman Empire).
Serbia. It wanted to create a Slavic empire and some Slavic states were in Austria-Hungary.
It was formerly another group who wanted to overthrow the Hawaiian Monarch Government of Hawaii which was the "Hawaiian League" also now known as the "Annexation Club".
He wanted to keep the country safe.
It might be true that they wanted to aid their home country achieve empire. There is the remote possibility that they wanted to create a fishing empire to feed the hungry of the world. Most likely they wanted a successful colony because of the wealth it would produce for them personally.