The differences in the economic development of the mid-Atlantic (Middle Colonies), New England, and Southern colonies can BEST be attributed to the geographic conditions there.
The geographic features in each region—such as climate, natural resources, and soil fertility—had a significant impact on the types of economic activities that developed. For example, New England's rocky soil and cold climate led to mixed agriculture, trade, and fishing; the Middle Colonies had fertile land suitable for farming grains; while the Southern Colonies benefited from a warm climate and rich soil, leading to the plantation economy based on cash crops like tobacco and cotton.