Final answer:
Around 1750, North America was characterized by English, French, and Spanish territorial control, with an economy in the southern states reliant on slave labor for tobacco, sugar, and cotton plantations. European diseases also had a devastating impact on native populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In North America around 1750, the east coast was predominantly governed by the English and the French, with the Spanish conquering into the southwest from Mexico. During this time, the southern states largely depended on slave labor to support their economy, which was heavily reliant on vast plantations producing lucrative crops such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton. These agricultural products were highly sought after internationally, leading to widespread use of tobacco, sweeteners, and cotton garments. Consequently, to compensate for the insufficient supply of cheap labor, African slaves were increasingly imported, eventually leading to a significant African-American population in the United States.
Different colonial powers had divergent approaches to the exploitation of the continent. While the British focused on establishing family farms and plantations, the French concentrated on trade relations with Native Americans, particularly in the fur trade. The introduction of European diseases had a devastating impact on the indigenous populations, leading to significant loss of life and societal disruption, as these diseases led to widespread epidemics.
Moreover, there was a sharp contrast between the lifestyles in various regions. In the north, there were larger cities and smaller farms, whereas in the South the focus was on plantation economy. The varying degrees of self-sufficiency among colonists and the diverse economic practices defined the social and economic conditions of the period. Amidst these developments, colonial North America was shaping up to be a land of stark contrasts, marked by distinctions in freedom and servitude, wealth disparity, and segmented societies divided along racial and religious lines.