Question

how did texas become a state? in 1821 mexico won independence from spain. mexico controlled the land that is now texas. at the time, the non - native american population of texas was about 3,000. most of these people were tejanos (tay • hah • nohs), or mexicans who claimed texas as their home. wishing to increase settlement, mexico offered vast tracts of land to people who would agree to bring families to settle there - as citizens of mexico. stephen f. austin brought 300 american families to settle in texas. austin’s success made him a leader among the american settlers. at first, mexico encouraged americans to settle in texas. before long, americans greatly outnumbered tejanos. tensions with mexico developed when americans refused to follow mexico’s rules. these included learning spanish and becoming catholic. many americans also held enslaved african americans, even though mexico threatened to ban slavery. in 1830 mexico issued a decree, or official order, closing its borders to further immigration. american settlers, led by austin and sam houston, tried to make peace with mexican leaders. these efforts failed. texans - including americans and tejanos - began planning to break away from mexico. 1. why did newly independent mexico offer large tracts of land for settlement to non - native people? select select mexico’s population was small and they wanted to increase it. mexico was trying to drive out native americans and offered land to those who would do so. mexico was hoping to become part of the united states.

Explanation:

To answer this, we analyze the text: "Wishing to increase settlement, Mexico offered vast tracts of land to people who would agree to bring families to settle there". The first option ("Mexico’s population was small and they wanted to increase it") aligns with the goal of increasing settlement (which implies increasing population). The second option is incorrect as the text doesn't mention driving out Native Americans. The third option is incorrect as Mexico was independent and not seeking to join the US.

Answer:

Mexico’s population was small and they wanted to increase it.