The correct answer is: Colonies had little money to invest in industry.
In fact, New England took advantage of its natural resources to help industries grow:
- It used its rivers and streams for waterpower to run machines in factories.
- It had coal and iron deposits close.
- It had several ports to get raw materials and ship finished goods.
Also, the shipping industry based our of New England played an important role in trade between the Middle Colonies and Europe.