Final answer:
The New England and Middle Colonies had diverse economies with manufacturing, trade, and varied agriculture, while the Southern Colonies primarily focused on agriculture, growing cash crops like tobacco and rice due to their favorable climate and geography.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic structures of the New England (Northern), Middle, and Southern Colonies were distinct in colonial America. The New England colonies were known for their reliance on shipbuilding, fishing, and whaling due to the rocky soils and long winters that were not as conducive to agriculture. Manufacturing and trade also played a significant role in their economies. The Middle colonies were marked by a varied agricultural output, but were also a leader in iron manufacturing by the mid-eighteenth century. They grew grains such as wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, and corn, and raised livestock.
In contrast, the Southern colonies primarily focused on agriculture, with a heavy emphasis on cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. The geography and climate of the South supported a longer growing season, allowing for these profitable agricultural endeavors. Some parts of the South, like North Carolina, also produced goods from their forests, such as tar, pitch, and timber necessary for shipbuilding.