“Fire and water are not more heterogeneous than the different colonies in North America.” Explain the meaning of this phrase.

The phrase implies a comparison between two natural materials as different as water and fire, referring to the fact that this difference is similar to the differences between the different British colonies in America.

Thus, for example, the New England colonies were clearly influenced by Puritanism and political conservatism, while others such as Maryland had a clear Catholic influence and a more open mind regarding other religions, cultures and nationalities. Also, while in the north some manufactured goods such as ships were produced, in the south of the country the main industry was agriculture.