contributed most directly to the outbreak of the U.S.-Mexican War?

The most direct cause of the U.S.-Mexican War was the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. This action was seen as a violation of Mexican sovereignty and led to escalating tensions between the two countries, ultimately resulting in the outbreak of war in 1846. Other contributing factors included border disputes between the two nations and conflicting interpretations of the boundary between Texas and Mexico.