Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs, and a conclusion. Use evidence
from at least four documents in the body of the essay. Support your response with relevant facts, examples, and
details. Include relevant outside information.
Essay Question:
Describe at least three similarities between the government of the ancient Roman Republic and
United States of America and conclude whether the United States Government was an
experiment engineered by our Founding Fathers or A proven product of the Classical minds?
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to:
–
• Address all aspects of the essay question by accurately analyzing and interpreting at least four
documents
–
• Incorporate information from the documents in the body of the essay. Be sure to specifically reference
these documents.
–
• Incorporate relevant outside information through your own research
–
• Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
–
• Use a logical and clear plan of organization
–
• Introduce the theme and conclude with a summation of the theme
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #1: Roman Government
Direct Democracy - government with the participation and consent of those being governed
Republic - government in which “the people” (however that term is defined) have an impact
upon decisions
Democratic Republic - a republic with democratic leanings (usually this means a
representative democracy – “the people” impact decisions through direct votes, and through
the election of representatives who vote on many issues)
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
The two leaders of the
executive branch, the
consuls, were elected for
one year by the Patricians
(upper class). They
oversaw the Senate and
commanded the Roman
army during wars. Other
members of the executive
branch were the tax
collectors, mayors, city
police, and other people
in positions of power in
cities.
The most powerful part of
the legislative branch was
the Senate.
The Senate was a group of
about 300 male citizens
who owned
land. They could tell the
consuls how much money
they could spend and on
what. These men were
appointed by the consuls.
The judicial branch had six
judges who were elected
every two years. They
were in charge of deciding
punishments that
criminals would receive.
Their job was similar to
the job that judges have
today in the United States.
Document #2: Why a Republic?
As we know from the myth of Romulus and Remus, the original
community of Rome was founded in 753 BCE. In the late 600’s
BCE, Romans were ruled by the Etruscans. The Etruscans were
the people who lived north of Rome in central Italy. These
northern Italians were highly skilled artisans who knew how to
pave roads, drain marshes, and construct sewers. They were
also under the control of a monarch.
In 509 BCE wealthy Roman landowners overthrew the Etruscan
king and vowed never to be ruled by a monarch again. In place
of the monarchy, the Romans established a republic (a thing of
the people). A republic is a form of government in which voters
elect officials to run the state. In the Roman Republic, only
adult male citizens were entitled to vote and to take part in
government. Three important groups of citizens helped govern
the republic: the Senate, the magistrates, and the assemblies
- Textbook: Journey Across Time
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #3: Rights of Citizens
Document #4: Limited Government
The ancient Roman Empire covered a huge area and included many groups of people. To rule such a large area, the
Romans created a code of laws that many nations still use today. What follows are some principles, or basic rules, that the
Romans developed.
• All free people have equal rights before the law.
• A person must be considered innocent until he or she is proven guilty.
• Accused people should be allowed to face their accusers and defend themselves.
• Judges must interpret the law and make decisions fairly.
• People have rights that no government can take away.
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #5: Bill of Rights in the US Constitution
1. Freedom of speech, press and religion
2. Right to keep and bear arms
3. Freedom from housing soldiers in private homes
4. Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
5. Right to process - innocent until proven guilty
6. Right to a speedy and public trial
7. Civil trial by jury
8. Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
9. Forbids the Government from limiting freedoms and rights not given in the
Constitution.
10. Limits the power of the Federal Government to those granted in the
Constitution
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #6: The 12 Tables



I.1
"If he (plaintiff) summon him (defendant) into court, he shall go. If he does not go, (plaintiff) shall call
witnesses. Then only he shall take him by force. If he refuses or flees, he (plaintiff) shall lay hands on him. If
disease or age is an impediment, he shall grant him a team (of oxen). He shall not spread with cushions the
covered carriage if he does not wish to.
II.3
Whoever is in need of evidence, he shall go on every third day to call out loud before the doorway of the
witness."
III. 1
"When a debt has been acknowledged or a judgment has been pronounced in court, 30 days must be the
legitimate grace period. Thereafter, arrest of the debtor may be made by the laying on of hands. Bring him into
court. If he does not satisfy the judgment (or no one in court offers himself as surety on his behalf) the creditor
may take the debtor with him. He may bind him either in stocks or fetters, with a weight of no less than 15 lbs.
(or more if he desires)." [After 60 days in custody, the case is returned to the court, and if the debt is not then
paid, the debtor can be sold abroad as a slave, or put to death.]
males, by reason of levity of disposition, shall remain in guardianship,
even when they have attained their majority."
-freedman is made over to his patron, if the freedman has died
intestate and has no natural successor.
-of-mouth that shall hold
good.
usus): If a man and woman live together continuously for a year, they are
considered to be married; the woman legally is treated as the man's daughter.
carmen) such as was causing
slander or insult.... he shall be clubbed to death."
compensation with him." (Lex talionis)
ed (`killed')."
legally appointed who has been found
guilty of receiving a bribe for giving a decision."
' on account of a funeral."
no long garlands, no incense boxes."
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #6: Power
Many who rose to prominence in the Roman Republic were citizen-soldierstatesmen. The model served as consul, then later as dictator. To the Romans,
“dictator” was not necessarily a negative term; it meant a magistrate with
extraordinary power who served the people and ruled on a temporary basis (no
more than 6 months). Cincinattus was said to have come to the rescue of Rome
twice in the fifth century B.C.E. during times of crisis. When those threats
were put down, he promptly retired to his farm in spite of his great fame and
potential power. As a result, the Republican government survived. The Roman
military leaders who carried out their duties in the Republican Era served
politically, then made way for others. Their society was vested in public service.
- Textbook: Journey Across Time
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #7: US vs. Roman Government Chart
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #8: Fall of the Republic
The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martii) is the name of 15 March in the Roman calendar,
probably referring to the day of the full moon. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the
months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months.[1] The Ides of
March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In
modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in
44 B.C. Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate led by Marcus Junius Brutus,
Gaius Cassius Longinus and 60 other co-conspirators.
On his way to the Theatre of Pompey (where he would be assassinated), Caesar saw a seer who
had foretold that harm would come to him not later than the Ides of March. Caesar joked, "Well,
the Ides of March have come", to which the seer replied "Ay, they have come, but they are not
gone."[2] This meeting is famously dramatized in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar,
when Caesar is warned to "beware the Ides of March".[3][4]
Document Based Essay Question: Unit #3 Honors World History
Document #9: Fall of the Republic