Final answer:
The economic differences between the colonies were mainly due to geographic conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic differences between the colonies were mainly due to a) geographic conditions.
In the British North American colonies, geographic conditions played a significant role in shaping their economic activities. The colonies were located in different regions with varied environments and resources, which influenced the types of economic activities they engaged in. For example, the New England colonies had rocky soil and limited agricultural opportunities, so they focused on trade, shipbuilding, and fishing. The Southern colonies had fertile land and a warm climate, making agriculture, particularly cash crop cultivation, their primary economic activity.
This geographic diversity led to economic specialization and different economic systems in the colonies. It influenced their trade patterns, labor systems, and overall economic development.