Firstly the impression you have on native North American civilizations is from the 1800s after it had been ravaged by the effect of Europeans for three centuries. The Spanish explorers in the 1500s and later archeological evidence show that North American civilizations were very similar to the South American civilizations at the time. That means large cities with huge buildings, farmland as far as the eye can see, barges along the great river systems trading goods across the entire continents. We even find metalworking shops and metal items, although only for decorations as their alloys were not good enough to use.

There have been many attempts at explaining why the Americas were not more technologically advanced. The continent were much smaller which means that there are fewer places where the conditions are right for breakthrough. There were also fewer people so fewer people to come up with good ideas. In addition there were fewer useful animals. There were wolves (dogs) and lamas but not cows, horses, sheep, and many other animals useful for farmers and travelers.