Causes of the War with the United States

Causes of the War with the United States

The following article comes from a Mexican scholar, Josefina Zoraida Vazquez. She wrote this article with the purpose of tracing the origins of the Mexican War.

Mexican historians have always viewed expansionism as the origin of the war. But the war left an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to deal better with Mexico's defense. Mexicans do not consider the origins of the war covered in mystery and they affirm that the war was caused by the insatiable ambition of the United States , aided by their weakness.

Up to 1821, while the economy and population of the United States knew a stable government for four decades dominated by impressive elite, Mexico lost its dynamism. The new nation inherited a certain vulnerability that awakened European and North American ambitions, to the point that Mexico became converted into the most threatened nation on the continent during most of 19th century.

This image depicts the Territorial acquisitions of...

Mexico - troops in Calle de Revilladigego [i.e. Re...

Aqueduct City of Mexico

By 1840, the northern country had a population of almost 20million inhabitants. While Mexico counted a few more than seven million inhabitants.

Mexico hoped that colonization would be the best way to encourage prosperity in its northern frontier. Mexico conceded more favorable conditions to settlers than did the North American government. Therefore, the loss of Texas was very painful to Mexico.

With the treaty signed between Great Britain and the United States, Mexico's only hope (the deterioration of relations between Great Britain and the United States would break out into war) was vanished. Another international aggravation for

Mexico was the split in relations declared by French minister over a minor incident. The diplomatic relations between Mexico and France were vanished.

Also, Polk's accused Mexico of insults and lack of payments. The message was sent to the congress on May 11, and approved...