Final answer:
The North Carolina Colony, established by the English, was characterized by a diverse society, a proprietary governance model, and an economy centered on plantation agriculture. This contrasted with the homogenous societies and more communal governance of the Puritan New England colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The North Carolina Colony was established by the English and differed from the colonies of the North by boasting a more diverse society. Unlike the more homogenous Puritan New England colonies, North Carolina and the other southern colonies tended to have a broader mixture of peoples, including English, Scots-Irish, and other European settlers, as well as Native Americans and African slaves. The colony's establishment began with the Lost Colony of Roanoke and restarted under the auspices of the eight Lords Proprietors with the Carolina Charter of 1663. This proprietary model of governance, where nearly absolute power was vested in the hands of a few, contrasted with the New England colonies' town meetings and local self-governance.
Carolina's economy also differed significantly; while New England's economy was diverse and included shipping, timber, and subsistence farming, Carolina and other southern colonies like Virginia and Maryland were heavily invested in plantation agriculture, especially tobacco. This not only shaped the economic structure but also had vast social and cultural implications, influencing the composition of society in terms of class and race. Carolina's growth was propelled by both the transatlantic trade and the migration of settlers within the Americas, as individuals sought new opportunities in these developing lands.