Final answer:
The three main reasons for Anglo settlement in Texas during the Mexican National Era were cheap land, escape from debt, and the expectation that Texas would join the United States. generous land purchase terms and tax exemptions along with cultural and political aspirations, propelled settlement and subsequent tensions with Mexico.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main reasons for Anglo settlement in Texas during the Mexican National Era were the availability of cheap land, the opportunity to escape from debt, and the anticipation that Texas would eventually join the United States. Mexico, having just achieved its independence from Spain in 1821, was eager to populate its northern territories and passed colonization laws that attracted many Americans.
These settlers, primarily from slave-owning states, saw Texas as an opportunity to extend the 'cotton kingdom' due to its fertile land and favorable climate. The generous terms of land purchase in Texas compared to those in the United States included pricing land at 10 cents per acre versus $1.25 per acre in the U.S. and giving settlers a 10-year exemption from taxes. Moreover, the settlers harbored cultural and political aspirations aligned with American expansionism, despite Mexico's efforts to integrate them, which ultimately contributed to political tensions leading to Texas's quest for independence.