What prompted Moses Austin to start a settlement plan in Tejas?

Moses Austin was motivated to create a settlement plan in Tejas primarily to restore a family debt that he had incurred. After facing significant financial struggles due to failed business ventures and a lack of resources, he sought a way to ensure his family's financial stability. Recognizing the potential land and resources available in Tejas—primarily its agricultural opportunities—Austin proposed to settle American families in the region. This plan not only offered a solution to his financial troubles but also aligned with the broader goals of expanding American settlements into Texas, which at that time was still a part of Spanish territory.

While factors like personal ambition for governance, successes in mining, and missionary aspirations might have influenced individuals in that era, they were not the primary reasons driving Austin’s settlement plan. His focus was squarely on addressing his immediate financial challenges through land settlement.