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.
Common foods in the backcountry were things like stews, soups, and pot pies. These areas have a distinctive type of cooking style which is seen through the history of the thirteen colonies.
