North Carolina
* Founded in 1653
* Economy based on agriculture, primarily tobacco and corn
* Settlers were mostly small farmers and traders
South Carolina
* Founded in 1670
* Economy based on the cultivation of cash crops, such as rice and indigo
* Settlers were mostly wealthy planters and merchants
These differing economic bases led to different social and political structures in the two colonies. North Carolina developed a more egalitarian society, while South Carolina was more hierarchical. These differences would persist even after the Carolinas became part of the United States.