The buildings of this period, dating roughly between 1820 and 1860, were constructed from the architectural inspiration of Ancient Greece, but with many touches that made them more distinctly American. In other words, they were more than replicas of Greek buildings; rather they were American buildings with Greek touches to them. For example, the Capitol Building of the United States uses a Greek corinthian order, but replaces the icanthus leaf of the authentic Greek capital with American maize or tobacco leaves (see. Fig. 1-2)
 

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Fig. 1 Corinthian Order from Palladio, Bk. IV, Temple of Castor and Pollux, recommended by Jefferson for Capitol

Fig. 2 United States Capitol Building: Tobacco leaf capital by H. Benjamin Latrobe

 
    The most classic example of American Greek Revival,  or perhaps better labeled Greek Inspired, architecture is the  Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia. It was designed by William Strickland, one of the period's great architects. Unlike earlier efforts by Latrobe, the Second Bank of the United States (see Fig. 3) is an example of true Greek Revival inspiration, in authentic Greek temple form. It boasts the ionic order, and sits on a marble platform,  similar to the Parthenon of Pericles' Athens (See Fig. 4).
 
 

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Fig. 3 - Second Bank of the USA,  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Fig. 4 - Parthenon, 5th Cent. BC, Athens, Greece

 
    The Greek Revival motif in America was an adaptation of the basic Greek temple front to houses, civic buildings and churches. The Greek Revival architectural movement was also representative of the many other societal changes that came about during the 19th century in America, including industrialization, a more confident sense of nationalism, and many political changes - from Jacksonian democracy to a Civil War. It was the first style that can be called truly American, not a slavishly imitative style of English or European buildings.