When we think of the period of classical antiquity, most think of Greece and Rome dominating and flourishing in the fields of philosophy, science, mathematics and of literature. Another admirable achievement, the establishment of early forms of democracy, came from this period and should not be overlooked because it forms the historical basis of our government today. The founding fathers of the United States were influenced by Greek and Roman concepts of law, government structure, and even philosophy. The concepts described in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States date back historically to the period of classical antiquity and show that the government and law of the United States were modeled on those of Greece and Rome . the people are rooted in Athenian democracy which dates back to the 5th century BC. Thomas Jefferson declared in the Declaration of Independence: "The people have the right to alter or abolish it and to institute a new government, laying its foundations on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as shall seem to them right. more appropriate. » likely to affect their safety and happiness. The Declaration of Independence reflects the importance of public intervention, showing that government actions profoundly affect people's lives and that people must therefore have a say in government. This concept is very similar to the ideology of Cleisthenes, an Athenian statesman and reformer who was an aristocrat exiled from Athens under tyrannical rule. This Athenian democracy was the first of its kind, and was certainly not the last. After Cleisthenes returned from exile, he created the first true government of the people - the demos, around...... middle of paper...... Retrieved March 14, 2011 from the Founders' Library: http ://www.founding.com/founders_library/pageID.2358/default.aspLloyd, MD (September 22, 1998). Polybius and the Founding Fathers: the separation of powers. Retrieved March 13, 2011 from Marshall Davies Lloyd: http://mlloyd.org/mdl-indx/polybius/intro.htm McManus, B. (July 2003). Roman government. Retrieved March 15, 2011 from VROMA: http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/romangvt.html Parmele, M. (2010). The funeral oration of Pericles: because every self-aware citizen should have it at his disposal. American Bull Moose. Riggsby, A.M. (n.d.). Texts by Cicero. Retrieved March 13, 2011, from the University of Texas Department of Classics: http://www.utexas.edu/depts/classics/documents/Cic.htmlThe Greeks - Cleisthenes. (nd). Retrieved March 17, 2011 from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/characters/cleisthenes_p8.html