Final answer:
Jose Antonio Navarro supported the institution of slavery in Texas to cultivate cotton, which suited the region's climate and was economically beneficial due to incentives like cheap land and tax exemptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jose Antonio Navarro supported slavery in Texas primarily to grow cotton, a crop that thrived in the soil and climate of the region and was well-suited to the plantation system that depended on enslaved labor. The institution of slavery was seen by many white settlers in Texas as not only a God-given right but also a patriotic duty, and it became a major point of contention with the Mexican government, which had outlawed slavery in an effort to weaken American influence in Texas. Despite Mexico's efforts to restrict slavery, the economic incentives offered, such as cheap land and tax exemptions, encouraged American settlers to continue the practice. Texas's soil and climate were ideal for cotton production, which was why so many settlers, including Jose Antonio Navarro, sought to maintain and grow the institution of slavery in the region.