Causes of the Mexican-American War

The Mexican-American War was a result of several factors that ultimately led to conflict between Mexico and the United States. One of the main causes of the war was the annexation of Texas by the United States. Texas gained its independence from Mexico in 1836, but Mexico never recognized it as a separate republic. The annexation of Texas by the US in 1845 exacerbated tensions between the two countries.

Another cause of the Mexican-American War was the dispute over the border between Texas and Mexico. Mexico claimed that the border was the Nueces River, while the US claimed it was the Rio Grande. This disagreement over the border led to skirmishes between Mexican and American troops.

In addition to the annexation of Texas and the border dispute, there were also economic factors that contributed to the conflict. The United States was interested in acquiring more territory in the west, which would provide access to valuable resources and trade routes. Mexico, on the other hand, was wary of US expansion and viewed it as a threat to its sovereignty.

Impact of the War

The Mexican-American War had far-reaching consequences for both countries. Mexico lost almost half of its territory to the United States, including present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. The war also had a significant impact on the indigenous populations living in these areas, as they were displaced and marginalized by the new American settlers.

For the United States, the war marked the beginning of a period of westward expansion and territorial growth. The acquisition of new territory from Mexico helped to fulfill the country's "Manifest Destiny" of extending its borders from coast to coast. However, the war also deepened divisions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery, which would eventually lead to the Civil War.

What was a cause of the Mexican-American War?

The causes of the Mexican-American War included the annexation of Texas by the United States, the dispute over the border between Texas and Mexico, and economic factors related to US expansion and Mexico's sovereignty concerns.