How was Athenian democracy different from American democracy?

Answer 1

In almost every way. We have to remember that the idea of Athens as 'the birthplace of democracy' was an invention of 19th century poet Lord Tennyson, who was trying to drum up support in Western Europe for the Greek rising against its Turkish Ottoman overlords.

In reality, Athens' democracy consisted of a number of (usually carefully orchestrated) mass meetings on subjects that the rulers thought important enough - a sort of referendum, really. These would be about things like war or peace, or the appointment of a general or admiral in times of war. And then there was jury duty, also in mass meetings.

That was it , basically. Athens indeed was the birthplace of philosophical and scientific thought in Europe. But for all its attributed fame as the birthplace of democracy, in reality it always was and remained an oligarchy, ruled by the members of a small group of powerful families. There were no democratic institutions like a Congress with well-defined constitutional powers and apart from the war leaders mentioned above, there were no elected public officials, no elected leadership, no checks and balances or budgetary restraints.

Women had no political (or other) rights at all, and males only could vote or do jury duty if they were free-born and had citizen status. The US system only has the word 'democratic' in common with what Athens was later said to be. Oh yes, and the concept of plebiscites on very important subjects that they have in several US States.

Answer 2

It was direct democracy - the citizens in council directed government. America has representative democracy - citizens elect representatives to Congress.