Final answer:
Southern colonies were shaped by plantation-based economies relying on slave labor, which influenced social and cultural norms including race relations, wealth distribution, and artistic expressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cultural and social influences in the southern colonies were profoundly shaped by economic factors such as the introduction of the plantation system and the heavy reliance on slave labor from Africa. This not only altered the ethnic makeup but also created a society built upon racial ideologies and the perceived superiority of Whites. Wealth accumulation and the pursuit of the elite status by White southerners were largely dependent upon the profitability of slave labor.
Artistic influences in the southern colonies were predominantly European, with stylistic differences arising due to control by different colonial powers such as Spain, France, and England. In terms of societal norms, concepts of courtesy, hospitality, and chivalry were valued among White southerner, while defenses of slavery became more pronounced by the mid-1800s, often citing paternalistic justifications or purported racial inferiority to support the institution.