Final answer:
The Greeks inspired American democracy with their practice of direct democracy, although it was limited to a small percentage of the population. America adopted this, as well as the Roman concept of representative democracy, which influenced the creation of the U.S. as a republic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aspect of Greek democracy that inspired Americans was the concept of democratic government, where citizens participate in the decision-making process. Athens introduced this practice of direct democracy, where citizens voted directly on laws and government matters. However, it should be noted that this included only a fraction of the population - about 15% of residents in Athens were eligible to vote. On the other hand, the Roman Republic introduced the notion of representative democracy, where citizens elect officials to represent them, an idea that greatly influenced the establishment of the United States as a republic.
In contrast to direct democracy, a republic is a form of government in which the populace elects representatives to govern on their behalf. The American system draws heavily on this Roman concept but also incorporates elements from Greek democracy as well as influences from the Age of Enlightenment, the Protestant Reformation, and British governance practices. The American founders recognized the importance of these historical precedents in crafting a government that could balance the right to self-governance with effective representation and the protection of individual rights.