Final answer:
Hayden Edwards' attempt to evict settlers and his subsequent rebellion against the Mexican government, known as the Fredonia Rebellion, exacerbated preexisting tensions between Texan settlers and Mexican authorities, contributing to the unrest that led to the Texas Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hayden Edwards and Tensions in Early Texas
The actions of Hayden Edwards significantly ignited tensions between Mexican governments and Texan settlers in the 1820s. Edwards, an empresario, attempted to evict settlers who had already occupied land included in his grant. This land dispute led to the Mexican government annulling their agreement with him. His response was to seize the local alcalde of Nacogdoches and declare the formation of the Republic of Fredonia. Stephen Austin led a militia to support the Mexican army, undermining Edwards's revolt, which collapsed, causing the revolutionaries to flee Texas.
The Texan settlers' disregard for Mexican law and their belief in superiority further exacerbated tensions, characterized by contempt towards Tejano and Native American residents, and a desire to undermine Mexican authority. This attitude paved the way for growing resentment from both the Mexican government and the region's original inhabitants, leading to the culmination of major incidents, such as the Mexican-American War and subsequent ethnic cleansing policies.
In summary, the discord between the Texan settlers and the Mexican government was a product of cultural clashes, economic competition, and political dominance by settlers, which all laid the groundwork for the Texas Revolution and later conflicts.