b) Stephen F. Austin

Stephen F. Austin, recognized as the “Father of Texas,” played a crucial role in the early colonization of Texas and its path to becoming a part of the United States. He led the first successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States to the area in the 1820s. This settlement, known as the “Old Three Hundred,” laid the foundation for the significant American presence in Texas, which was then a part of Mexico. Austin’s leadership and diplomatic skills helped shape the Texas identity and were instrumental in its journey towards statehood.