Final answer:
The Spanish established the settlement of San Antonio de Bexar on the San Antonio River during the period of American expansion into Mexican Texas. This location played a role in the broader context of American settlement and the subsequent conflicts leading to Texas' independence after the pivotal Battle of San Jacinto.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 500-mile journey from the Rio Grande to East Texas was fraught with danger during the period of early American settlers moving into Mexican Texas. The Spanish selected a location on the San Antonio River for a new settlement, which would become known as San Antonio de Bexar.
This decision factored into the complex history of the region as Americans, and eventually Texans, began to expand into territories north of the Rio Grande River. After Mexico gained independence from Spain and allowed Anglo settlement, tensions and cultural clashes led to the Texas Revolution. Texas ultimately won its independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, overcoming General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's forces.
The influx of American settlers had a considerable impact on the region. Stephen F. Austin's settlement of 300 families marks the beginning of American immigration to Texas, dramatically increasing the American presence and setting the stage for eventual annexation by the United States.