Final answer:
The Mexican government tried to integrate Anglo settlers into Mexican society with laws mandating the official use of Spanish and other measures but tensions over cultural differences, and non-compliance with laws, especially those against slavery, led to increased restrictions on American immigration and eventually armed conflict, resulting in Texas declaring independence in 1836.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mexican government's policy towards Anglo-American settlers in Texas evolved from welcoming to increasingly restrictive due to their unlawful behavior and failure to integrate into the Mexican society. Initially, Mexico passed laws that required transactions to be in Spanish, and offered incentives such as extra land to foreigners who married Mexican citizens. These efforts were aimed at encouraging the acculturation of American settlers.
However, tensions escalated due to cultural differences, with most Texans remaining culturally distinct, avoiding naturalization, and ignoring Mexican laws, particularly those concerning slavery, which had been abolished by Mexico in 1829. Yet many Americans brought slaves under the guise of indentured servants. As conflicts increased, Mexico forbade U.S. immigration in 1830 and increased military presence in an attempt to enforce laws on the growing number of settlers, who eventually rose against the Mexican government, leading to Texas' declaration of independence in 1836 after a brief war.
Post-independence, racial tensions and seizure of lands from Mexicans and Native Americans intensified with the conquest of territories, perpetuating economic exploitation and political marginalization of Mexican-Americans, which resonate to this day.