Texas began as a valuable territory in Mexico, highly coveted by the U.S., especially in the south. The climate of Texas was perfect for growing cotton, which was an important crop on southern plantations. In 1821, a man named Moses Austin was the first to pursue a colony in the territory. He was given a huge land grant, but died before he could do anything with it. His son, Stephen Austin took the land and continued the dream of colonizing Texas. Almost three hundred American families, known as the Old Three Hundred, were quick to settle in territory during between 1822 and 1827. As more Americans moved to Texas, the Mexican government got worried. The territory was originally meant for tejanos- Texan colonists from Mexico. In 1830, the government
