Final answer:
Texians rejected Mexican authority due to political, social, and cultural issues, heightened by Santa Anna's centralization of power and the enforcement of Mexican laws against slavery. The victory at the Battle of San Jacinto led to the creation of the Republic of Texas, but the conflict with Mexico persisted over border disputes and ethnic tensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Texians (also known as Texans) rejected Mexican authority due to a variety of political, social, and cultural conflicts. These tensions rose from the abolishment of the Mexican Constitution of 1824, increasing centralization of power under Santa Anna, and the clash over issues like slavery which was not widely accepted in Mexico, unlike in Texas. Moreover, many Texans believed they would eventually become part of the United States which aligned neither with Mexican laws nor their centralist reforms.
When Santa Anna dismissed the Mexican Congress and abolished state governments, including that of Coahuila y Texas, and began enforcing customs duties collection, Texans felt their autonomy threatened. They saw these acts as a direct attack on their rights and a move towards an authoritarian regime, which led to armed conflict. The eventual victory at the Battle of San Jacinto resulted in the founding of the Republic of Texas, but issues like border disputes and cultural tensions with Native Americans and Tejanos continued.