Final answer:
During the Mesozoic Era, North America was part of the supercontinent Pangaea, which started to break up leading to a shift in the continent's position, climatic changes, and volcanic activity. Pre-Mesozoic saw different land distributions with supercontinents like Gondwana, and by the Mesozoic's end, North America began to form as a distinct continent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mesozoic Era spanned from 252 to 66 million years ago and is known as the Age of Reptiles or Age of Conifers. It falls between the Paleozoic and the Cenozoic within the Phanerozoic Eon. During the Mesozoic, North America was part of the supercontinent Pangaea. As the era progressed, Pangaea started to break up, leading to a significant shift in the continent's position, climatic changes, and increased volcanic activity.
Preceding the Mesozoic Era, in the Paleozoic, the land distribution on Earth was vastly different from what we see today. At that time, large supercontinents, such as Gondwana and Laurentia, were situated near the equator. By the end of the Paleozoic, the supercontinent Pangaea had formed, which included what is now North America.
Throughout the Mesozoic, the Triassic Period marked the beginning of this era and witnessed the continuity of Pangaea. However, during the Jurassic Period, the supercontinent began to fragment, leading to the isolated evolution of flora and fauna, including the rise of the famous dinosaurs. By the end of the Mesozoic, North America, as we recognize it today, was beginning to take shape, eventually contributing to the diverse geological and biological history.