Final answer:
The fight for an independent Texas was motivated by what was perceived as an abuse of power by the Mexican government, as evidenced by centralization efforts like the Siete Leyes and anti-slavery laws that clashed with Texan and American interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decision to fight for an independent Texas was primarily motivated by what the Texans and American expansionists viewed as the abuse of power by the Mexican government. Notably, the incident with empresario Haden Edwards and his revolt against the eviction by the Mexican government illustrates early unrest.
In consonance with these sentiments, the action taken by the Mexican President Santa Anna to centralize the government through the Siete Leyes, which effectively discounted the political voice and rights Texans were accustomed to under the U.S. model of government, propelled the desire for independence. The Texans fought to defend their rights and what they considered the proper constitution in the Federal Army of Texas, which led to Texas's eventual declaration of independence and the establishment of the Lone Star Republic.
Moreover, the Mexican government's attempts to limit the influence of slaveholding Texans through laws, such as the 1829 abolition of slavery by President Vicente Guerrero, and the efforts to encourage Mexican immigration while curbing American immigration, further fueled the call for independence. The eventual annexation of Texas to the United States was seen as a fulfillment of the destiny that many American settlers believed in, despite the complex political and ethical implications, particularly regarding the expansion of slavery.
Events such as these illustrate that the decision to fight for an independent Texas was deeply rooted in a resistance to what the settlers perceived as an overreach and the misuse of authority by the Mexican government, combined with the aspiration to align Texas more closely with American interests and governance practices.