Which of the following was an issue of conflict between the Mexican government and American settlers in Texas in the 1820s and 1830s? A. Mexico had abolished slavery but many American settlers were practicing slavery in Texas. B. The settlers were abolitionists but Mexico legalized slavery. C. Mexico forced American settlers to convert to Catholicism. D. The number of Tejanos in Texas was increasing faster than the number of American settlers. E. Mexico would not allow American settlers to become Mexican citizens.

Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1819 and signed a treaty to delineate the new boundary between the Spanish territory in North America and the US territory. After the settlement of border disputes, Spain began to encourage American settlers to settle the sparsely populated Spanish territories including Texas. It wanted to create a buffer zone between the Tejanos and the hostile Indian tribes who frequently raided their territories. Following Mexico's independence from Spain, even more, Americans began to settle in Texas. Although Americans had come to settle in Texas first at Spanish then the Mexican government's invitation, however, they soon developed differences with the Mexican government. They got free lands in Texas in return for accepting Mexican citizenship. The American Texans were not comfortable obeying Mexican laws which brought them into conflict with the Mexican government. Let's find out which of the following was a reason for conflict between the Mexican government and the American settlers: The Mexican government had abolished slavery in 1829. However, most of the American settlers were slaveowners from the south who brought with them many slaves, continued to practice slavery, and refused to obey the Mexican ban. This brought them into conflict with the Mexican government. The American settlers were not abolitionists, they were slave owners from the south. The Mexican government had abolished slavery. The statement in the question is incorrect. Mexicans were Catholics due to the Spanish influence. The Mexican government prohibited the open practice of other religions than Catholicism. However, they did not force the Americans to convert to Catholicism. It was the American settlers who ignored the Mexican laws. However, it was not the main reason for conflict. The number of American settlers was increasing rapidly compared to Tejanos. The statement in the question is incorrect. Mexican government not only allowed American settlers to become Mexican citizens but also gave them free lands in Texas. However, the American settlers wanted to maintain their identity as Americans and had accepted to come to Texas for commercial interests. They wanted to make Texas a US territory. The statement in the question is incorrect. Option A correctly mentions the reason for the conflict between the Mexican government and the American settlers, other statements are either incorrect or do not correctly describe the reason for conflict. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

	A.	Mexico had abolished slavery but many American settlers were practicing slavery in Texas.
	B.	The settlers were abolitionists but Mexico legalized slavery.
	C.	Mexico forced American settlers to convert to Catholicism.
	D.	The number of Tejanos in Texas was increasing faster than the number of American settlers.
	E.	Mexico would not allow American settlers to become Mexican citizens.

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