Final answer:
Stephen F. Austin led 300 families to settle in the Mexican province of Texas in 1821 as part of Mexico's plan to populate the area. These settlers were primarily from slave states and were seeking to expand slavery and the cotton kingdom in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stephen F. Austin's First Colony in Texas
In 1821, Stephen F. Austin led the first 300 families into what was then the Mexican province of Texas. This marked the beginning of the first significant wave of American settlers into the region. Following the invitation from Mexico, which sought to populate the area to develop the land and counter the sparse settlement, families were required to be of good moral character, comply with Mexican laws, and convert to Roman Catholicism.
The soil and climate of Texas were ideal for agricultural ventures, such as cotton plantations, which was a key factor for the American settlers, many of whom were from slave states and interested in expanding slavery. The influx of American settlers quickly outnumbered the existing Mexican population, setting the stage for future conflicts and the eventual Texas Revolution.