The Roman Republic
Start of a new Roman Government
Romans rebel against cruel king in 509 B.C.E.
Etruscan kings were accused of crimes and
expelled. Law allowing anyone plotting to be
king to be killed on the spot.
Created a Republic
Republic = form of government where the
citizens have the power
ROMAN REPUBLIC 509 BCE – 46 BCE (approx 500 years)
✶509 B.C.E. Rome = small city
✶Slowly expands.
✶338 B.C.E. defeat the other Latins
✶284 B.C.E. defeat Etruscans
✶267 B.C.E. defeat the Greeks
✶The Republic is growing
What was life like in the Republic?
• ROME BECAME A LARGE CITY
THAT WAS ABOUT 500 MILES
AROUND
• OUSTED (got rid of) KING AND
INVENTED REPUBLICAN FORM OF
GOVERNMENT
• ONLY FREE-BORN MALES COULD
VOTE (ROMAN MEN’S CLUB)
• PATRICIANS WERE WEALTHY
LANDOWNERS-MOST CONTROL
• PLEBEIANS WERE FARMERS,
MERCHANTS AND ARTISANS
• PATRICIANS INHERITED POWER AND
SOCIAL STATUS
• PLEBEIANS COULD NOT HOLD
IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN
GOVERNMENT
✶Rome’s republic was shaped by a
struggle between wealthy nobles and
regular citizens.
Patricians
Plebeians
✶Patricians
✶Plebeians
1.Wealthy land
1.Majority of the
population
2.Artisans,
shopkeepers, small
farm owners
3. Citizens (male)–
could vote, pay
taxes, serve in
army
4.Could not marry
a Patrician
5.Could not serve
owners
2.Nobles that made
up the ruling class
3.Citizens (male)–
could vote, had to
pay taxes and serve
in the army
4.Could not marry a
Plebian
5.Could serve in
government
in government
Power in the Roman Republic
Patricians
Plebeians
Slaves
✶How the Roman
Republic works
How the Republic Works
Division of Power
Dictator
.
Consuls
Senate
Assembly
Consuls
1. Top government official
2. Two chosen every year
3. Headed the army and ran the
government
4. Served short term….avoided risk of
abusing power
5. Veto
■ The right of the consul to reject the
other’s decision. Latin for “I forbid”
Senate
Latin for “old men”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
300 men
Chosen for life
Advise Consul
Deal with other countries
Proposes laws
Approve public works
Deal with daily government
problems
Assembly
1. Citizen soldiers – a voting assembly
1. Power comes
slowly
3. First step
towards
democracy
TWELVE TABLES
Plebeians go on strike for
more say in the government.
Leave the farms and the army
to go sit on the Palatine Hill
(Forum)
Patricians compromise- Pass
a written code of law called
the TWELVE TABLES.
Laws were harsh, but equal