What were some of the actions taken by settlers to protect themselves from the dangers they encountered on their move to Texas?

The Texas settlers established self-governing councils within the Mexican system called ayuntamientos and formed militias to deal with the Indian communities that sometimes threatened them.

Explanation:

Because soon after independence from Spain the Mexican government offered land for very affordable prices in the interest of populating the sparsely populated region, settlers from areas like Louisiana and Tennessee made the move to Tejas. They were led by settlement managers called empresarios like Stephen F. Austin and Haden Edwards. Austin for example gained enough influence due to the number of settlers he had brought to the region that he was able to sit on a ayuntamiento. This was a local council with elected representatives and it functioned like a local government seeing to the welfare and legal matters in the settlement.  Austin also commanded the local militia to defend the colony against Indians who were sometimes hostile or threatening and devise treaties and foster peace. Finally, the settlers also faced a number of dangers like skirmishes eventually against Mexican soldiers when tensions began to rise in the 1830s and Mexico tried to gain more control.  

the passage of a strict fugitive slave law

a king decides to declare war on a neighboring country without the input of any advisers