I'd wager that is more to do with its geography and wealth of natural resources in a land that was more or less ripe for the taking from the natives. Think of

I'd wager that is more to do with its geography and wealth of natural resources in a land that was more or less ripe for the taking from the natives. Think of it like starting a game of Civilization at renaissance/industrial age tech with democratic government on an island with abundant resources and no real enemies.