1. The factors that allowed settlers to establish a colony in Texas include the Mexican government's policy of allowing American settlers to come to Texas, the availability of land, and the promise of economic opportunities such as farming and ranching. Additionally, the Mexican government had a desire to increase the population and development of Texas.
Source: "Texas Revolution." History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/mexico/texas-revolution.
2. The interaction between the settlers in Texas and the Mexican government initially started off well, with the Mexican government encouraging American settlement in Texas. However, over time, tensions arose as the Mexican government began enforcing laws that the settlers disagreed with, such as the prohibition of slavery. This led to increasing conflict and ultimately to the Texas war for independence.
Source: "Texas Revolution." History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/mexico/texas-revolution.
3. The perspectives of the Texas settlers and the Mexican government differed on several key issues. The settlers wanted to maintain their right to own slaves and to have more self-rule, while the Mexican government wanted to abolish slavery and maintain tighter control over Texas. However, both the Mexican government and Texas settlers agreed on the desire for economic development and the potential for prosperity in Texas.
Source: "The Mexican War." U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/mexican-war.
4. The consequences of the Texas war for independence included Texas becoming an independent republic, with the potential to be annexed by the United States. This desire for annexation by the United States, along with disputes over the Texas-Mexico border, ultimately led to the Mexican-American War. The war resulted in Mexico losing a significant amount of territory to the United States.
Source: "Manifest Destiny & Mexican-American War." History.com, A&E Television Networks, 12 Dec. 2019, www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/manifest-destiny.
5. Both the United States and Mexican governments could have taken actions to avoid conflict. The United States could have avoided annexing Texas and respected Mexico's claim to the territory. The Mexican government could have made more concessions to the American settlers in Texas, such as allowing them to maintain their right to own slaves.
Source: "The Mexican War." U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/mexican-war.
6. Whether the Mexican-American War was justified is a matter of interpretation. Supporters of the war argue that it was justified due to the annexation of Texas and the need to establish a clear border between the United States and Mexico. Critics argue that the war was an act of aggression and imperialism by the United States, and that alternative solutions could have been pursued to resolve the border dispute.
Source: "Mexican-American War." History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/Something.