The plan to move settlers to Texas was started by Moses Austin his son , Stephen F. Austin took control of the project and put it in action. He charged very little which attracted many settlers . In 1832 about 20,000 had settled in Texas but , there were problems . Many settlers brought slaves and slavery was illegal in Mexico (Texas was part of Mexico) and they had to be Catholic and many did not want to . Settlers outnumbered the Tejanos and Mexicans feared all of the angry Texans starting a rebellion so , they passed a law forbidding any more settlers from the U.S. .
Thomas Jefferson wondered what was in the western area of North America so , he sent an army captain\ commando named Meriwether Lewis to search the west . There was a specific thing to look for though , a water route that lead through to the Pacific Ocean . If they found it they would control all of the trade that goes through the Western area . Meriwether Lewis invited a friend to come with him , his name was William Clark .
French general , Napoleon offered cheap land to settle a war that was about to be started . It was 3 cents an acre , and nearly doubled America's size.
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