Final answer:
Option (B), The Southern colonies were mainly established for economic reasons to grow cash crops and seek fortune, whereas the New England colonies were founded for religious freedom, particularly for Puritans and Pilgrims, with Rhode Island being a notable exception for its religious tolerance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason for the establishment of the Southern colonies differed from the New England colonies primarily in terms of their founding motivations. While Southern colonies, such as Maryland, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, were largely established for economic reasons, including agriculture and trade, and as a haven for various groups like persecuted Catholics and the deserving poor, the New England colonies were founded by religious groups like the Puritans and Pilgrims for religious reasons, seeking freedom from persecution. Rhode Island is particularly notable as a beacon of religious diversity and tolerance, established by dissenters like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson who disagreed with the Puritan orthodoxy dominant in the New England region.
One example of economic motivation in the South is the growth of cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo, which became the backbone of colonies like Virginia and the Carolinas, fueled by the fertile soil and long growing season. In contrast, Massachusetts's strict Calvinist beliefs drove its settlement, and Rhode Island's foundation by Roger Williams allowed a greater degree of religious freedom and diversity. Georgia, established last, served as a debtor's haven and a buffer between the Spanish Florida and the Carolinas, demonstrating both economic and social reasons for colonization.