After the Civil war there was a movement away from the English styles of Georgian and Adam towards a more classical style. Thomas Jefferson was a big part of the change with his interest in Romanesque design followed by what came to dominant the American home style for about 30 years -- approximately 1830 to 1860 - The Greek Revival. This was the beginning of the Romance period of home-building led by Benjamin H. Latrobe, a prominent architect of that era. Archeological studies at the time revealed Greece architecture as the inspiration for Rome, and Greece was fighting a war for indedendence along then that we could indentify with - all this led to the popularity of the Greek style.
A prominent feature of the Greek Revival style was the full length columns with classical captials - Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. You see this style often on southern farms, referred to as southern colonial ("colonial" is historically inaccurate). Around Savannah you will find many examples to prove the popularity of the style. Indentifying features to look for are low pitched roof, either gable or hipped, cornice lines emphasized with a wide band of trim with the classical entablature (cornice, frieze and architrave) supported by the aforementioned columns with classical capitals, and a front door surrounded by narrow sidelights with line of transom lights above.
The country was looking back at this time for inspiration and found Greek architecture a good model, along with Medieval Gothic and Italian styles. However, the formality, order and symmetry of the classical styles was soon to give way to a freer, eclectic style. It's fun to walk the Savannah streets and see these transitions from block to block.
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