Final answer:
Stephen F. Austin's arrest had the positive effect of unifying Texan settlers, leading to the Texas Revolution and the creation of the Republic of Texas. Negatively, it exacerbated tensions and distrust between the settlers and the Mexican government, reducing chances for a peaceful resolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
One positive effect of Stephen F. Austin's arrest is that it galvanized the Texan settlers against the Mexican government, contributing to the Texas Revolution and the eventual formation of the Republic of Texas.
His imprisonment highlighted the growing tensions and dissatisfaction among American settlers, particularly concerning issues such as the outlawing of slavery and the imposition of Mexican laws on predominantly Anglo settlements. In contrast, a negative effect of his arrest was the strain it put on relations between the Texan settlers and the Mexican government.
Austin's arrest further deteriorated trust and made diplomatic resolution of disputes less likely, pushing the region closer to armed conflict and contributing to the instability and episodes of violence that characterized the period leading up to the Texas Revolution.