Final answer:
North Carolina became a colony in 1663 as part of Carolina under the governance of eight Lords Proprietors. It later transitioned to a Royal Colony in 1729, ensuring government and protection from the Crown, remaining as such until the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
How North Carolina Became a Colony
The region known as Carolina was originally one colony with two distinct areas, the northern part, known as Albemarle, and the southern part centered around Charleston. The initial efforts to establish a Carolina colony were unsuccessful until 1663 when Carolina became a proprietary colony under the control of eight Lords Proprietors. These proprietors were responsible for the organization, government, and funding of the colony, and Carolina was noted for its policy of religious toleration which attracted non-Anglicans. The southern area thrived due to the growth of rice and indigo crops, while the northern portion, later becoming North Carolina, traded mostly in tobacco, turpentine, and tar.
Over time, dissatisfaction with the Lords Proprietors grew. Citizens of South Carolina, concerned about threats and seeking better governance and protection, successfully petitioned to become a Royal Colony in 1719. North Carolina followed suit in 1729, also becoming a Royal Colony. Both the Carolinas, as Royal Colonies, were now directly under the control of the English Crown and received governmental and defense support until they became part of the United States following the American Revolution.
Geographical challenges initially made Albemarle less appealing for colonization, but with Virginians moving south to expand their tobacco holdings, the population of North Carolina grew. Despite its slow start, Carolina was eventually split into two colonies, both operating under the Crown's rule.