The most important way in which the Greeks influenced American

Subject : History

Question: The most important way in which the Greeks influenced American democracy was by allowing

A) city-states to follow their own form of government.

B) citizens to participate in government.

C) elected representatives to make all decisions.

D) strong leaders to make all decisions

Expert Verified Solution:

The correct answer is:

B) Citizens to participate in government.

Explanation:

The most important way in which the Greeks, particularly the Athenians, influenced American democracy was through their practice of allowing citizens to participate directly in their government. In ancient Athens, citizens had the right to attend the Assembly, debate, and vote on laws and policies. This concept of citizen participation laid the foundation for the democratic principles that inspired the framers of the United States Constitution, which implemented a system of representative democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

The other options are not accurate in reflecting the primary influence of Greek democracy on American democracy:

A) City-states to follow their form of government: While Greek city-states had autonomy, this was not a direct influence on the structure of American democracy.

C) Elected representatives to make all decisions: This reflects the Roman Republic more than Athenian democracy, where direct participation by citizens was key.

D) Strong leaders to make all decisions: This is contrary to the principles of Greek democracy, where power was more dispersed among the citizens rather than centralized in a single leader.