Which characteristics of colonial America made the region uniquely suited for the development of democratic ideals?

The Colonies, especially those in the North, had developed a more-or-less egalitarian culture. Besides slaves and some indentured servants, most people owned land, although some owned larger plots than others.

Secondly, the colonies were largely self-governing during most of the colonial period. Britain was mostly interested in extracting a trade surplus from the colonies, but British rulers were not so preoccuppied with the daily local issues in America. These created a political culture in which local people took part in policy decisions.