What happened to Moses Austin's settlement plan in Texas?

• A. It succeeded as originally planned
• B. It was voided when Mexico took control of the area
• C. It led immediately to Texas independence
• D. It never involved Anglo-American settlers

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is how political control affects land settlement plans. Moses Austin had secured a grant from Spain to bring Anglo settlers into Texas, so his plan depended on Spanish authority. When Mexico won independence, the governing power over Texas changed, and that original Spanish grant no longer applied. As a result, the plan in its original form was effectively voided when Mexico took control. Later, his son Stephen F. Austin pursued a similar idea under Mexican authority with a new grant and successfully established a colony, showing how the idea continued, just under a different government.