Why did enslaved labor increase when cotton production increased in Texas?

What industries were present in mid-1800s Texas? 

How did increased migration directly impact the lives of American Indians in Texas?

How did the development of railroads influence the economic activities in Texas?

What was the result of the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty?

Read the passage from Studies Weekly:

In addition, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law. This law allowed the owners of enslaved individuals to recapture enslaved runaways, even if they fled to a “free” state. The law also made it a crime to help an enslaved person who had escaped. These two laws were meant to appease southern lawmakers and prevent their states from leaving the union.

What was the purpose of the Fugitive Slave Law?

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Tensions between the settlers and American Indians of Texas led to open hostilities. As the Comanche and other tribes lost their land and traditional hunting grounds, raids on frontier settlements increased. Many settlers were also unhappy with the establishment of the reservations along the Brazos River.

Why were settlers unhappy with the placement of reservations?

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Small farms concentrated on growing crops to sustain their families. Corn, wheat, hay, tobacco, and sugarcane were the staples of these farms. Cotton was the primary crop produced on large plantations.

Which crop was NOT commonly grown in Texas?

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Settlers who came to Texas made the treacherous journey overland in large wagons. Others journeyed for weeks across the ocean, eventually landing in Galveston or Houston. Members of the state government knew they would have to create more reliable forms of transportation if they wanted people to continue settling in Texas.

Why did the Texas government feel they needed to create better transportation for their state?