Final answer:
Mexico's independence from Spain led to liberal colonization laws aimed at populating Texas, which attracted a large influx of American settlers. These settlers eventually clashed with Mexican policies, especially over slavery, culminating in Texas declaring independence in 1836 and laying the groundwork for the Mexican-American War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of Mexico's independence from Spain on the colonization of Texas was significant and multilayered. As a newly independent nation, Mexico sought to populate the sparsely settled regions like Texas. To attract settlers to the area, colonization laws were passed, and Stephen F. Austin's 300 families were among the first wave of American settlers to take advantage of the generous land policies. This influx of Anglo settlers, however, eventually led to a cultural and political shift which amplified the division between the settlers and the Mexican government, particularly around issues such as slavery, which was outlawed in Mexico but practiced by some American settlers. Tensions increased until the American settlers, alongside many Tejanos, declared Texas independence in 1836, eventually leading to the establishment of the Lone Star Republic and setting the stage for further conflicts with Mexico, including the Mexican-American War.