Mexican American War

Background

As with all important events, historical interpretations of the causes of the war with Mexico vary. In short, a dictatorial government, centralized in Mexico started the war for U.S. annexation (1845) of Texas, which Mexico continued to claim despite the establishment of the independent Republic of Texas within 10 years. Some historians have argued, however, that the U.S. provoked the war by annexing Texas and, more pointedly, the stationing of an army at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Another, related interpretation argues that the U.S. administration President James K. Polk forced Mexico to war to take over California ...