Final answer:
Environmental and geographic variations did contribute to regional development of the British colonies, but other factors like mercantilism and political control also played a significant role.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether environmental and geographic variations contributed most to regional development of the British colonies. While it is true that environmental factors like the availability of fertile land in British North America played a role in the regional differences that developed in the colonial economies, it is important to consider other factors as well. Factors such as mercantilist policies, political control by the British, and the economic growth resulting from trade networks also influenced regional development.
For example, the British adopted mercantilist policies to tie the colonies to the mother country, pushing the colonies into a trade network that proved beneficial for economic growth. This increase in the colonists' standard of living contributed to regional development. Political control by the British also played a role, giving power to the colonial governor and the colonial assembly, which allowed the colonists to conclude that they had certain political rights.
Therefore, while environmental and geographic variations did contribute to regional development, it is necessary to consider the influence of other factors like mercantilism and political control when evaluating the overall impact.