LAYERED CURRICULUM Roman Republic
Activity # 1
Each group will complete a series of task. Your grade will
depend on how many tasks you are able to complete.
Anything not finished in class is due tomorrow.
Activity # 2
First
Activity # 3
Your group must select the following roles.
Activity # 4
Captain: This person is in charge of keeping the group on
task. Our captain is _______________.
Activity # 5
Liaison: This person is in your connection to Ms. Wrede. If
your group has a question, this person asks it. Our liaison is
_______________.
Checker: This person checks to make sure all work has been
completed by each group mate. Our checker is
_______________.
Content Finder: This person is in charge of finding additional
information in the text to support the group’s findings. Our
content finder is _______________.
Second
Your group needs to complete the various tasks that are
being assigned. Once an activity is completed, it is the job of
the Captain to bring the group’s work to Ms. Wrede for
checking.
The Tasks
Name
Role Completion
Total Points
*Each activity is scored out of 5 points. Total activity is
30 participation points.
See reverse side for description of activities.
Quick Notes
 All work must be attached to notebook to be graded.
 Redirection (for getting off task) will result in -1 point per
redirection.
 Remember your roles!
Activity # 1 – Rome Becomes a Republic
Activity # 3 – Flow Chart
Page 37 in your notebook
Step 1: Define Republic
Step 2: Silent reading. Each student must read
through activity silently and annotate the
reading. Break the reading into 5 events that
happened to change Rome to a republic.
Step 3: Provide students with a blank sheet of
paper
 In groups on the blank sheet, students read
“Rome Becomes a Republic”. They write:
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
questions for each section (Patricians &
Plebeians, Republic Government)
 *To be turned in to teacher*
 Group must develop a 5-slide cartoon
demonstrating how Rome became a
Republic
Page 39 in your notebook
Design a 10-event flow chart from Rome’s
beginning to its end as a dictatorship
Activity # 4 – Writing Prompt
Page 40 in your notebook
THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY
Writing prompt: How did Ancient Roman
government influence America?
Activity # 5 – Rome vs. America
Page 36 in your notebook
Complete the rest of the graphic organizer
based on what you have done in class today
Anything not finished in class is homework!
Activity # 2 – The Roman Republic: Key
Features
Page 38 in your notebook
Complete Graphic Organizer of Key Features
based on readings
Key Feature: Written Constitution
One of the changes that were made in the Roman Republic as a result of the
plebeians’ demands was the writing down of laws. At the beginning of the
Roman Republic, only consuls and senators, all representatives of the
patricians, had knowledge of the laws. The plebeians thought that this was
unfair. If the patricians wanted to change the laws to favor them, they could do
so very easily since the laws were not written down. About 450 B.C., the
plebeians’ demands for written laws were met. The patricians wrote the Roman
laws down on 12 bronze tablets. These tablets are called the Law of the Twelve
Tables. Everyone in the republic―patricians and plebeians alike―was subject to
follow the same set of written laws.
Key Feature: Tripartite Government
Something that is “tripartite” is divided into three parts or made up of three parts.
The Roman Republic was a tripartite government. There were three parts of the
Roman government that shared the power to rule. The Senators were from the
wealthy class called the patricians. The senators elected two consuls from their
group. Then there was a third group, an assembly of Roman citizens. In time,
the plebeians had representation in the assembly and representatives that were
equal to the senators, called tribunes. Tribunes could prevent laws proposed by
the Senate from being passed. After a while, plebeians also were able to elect
one of the consuls.
Key Feature: Checks and Balances
What does it mean that the Roman Republic had a system of checks and
balances? A system of checks and balances in government prevents any one
part of a government from becoming too powerful. In ancient Rome, the tripartite
government kept any one person or group from taking control of the Republic.
The Senate gave the aristocracy a voice in government. The consuls had to be
elected by senators and so were dependent on them for their power. The
assemblies provided representation for regular citizens. Even today, we value
the system of checks and balances. In the United States, we have three
branches of government. Power is distributed among the president, the
lawmakers, and the courts so that nobody has too much control over
government.
Key Feature: Civic Duty
The structure of the Roman Republic demonstrates that its people valued the
concept of civic duty. “Civic duty” refers to the types of responsibilities that
citizens have to their nation or country. In Rome, people could not rely on a king
or dictator to rule them and make decisions for them. Instead, they had to take
an active role in their government. People also participated in other ways.
Citizens were expected to defend the Republic when required. Citizens like
Cincinnatus served the Republic when enemies threatened its existence and the
citizens helped defend it. Because the people of Rome took their civic duties
seriously, the Republic remained strong and stable for a very long time.
Describe each branch of government
Legal Code
Judicial
Executive


R: Consuls – 2 in RR;
heads of government,
and could appoint
dictator in times of
need; commanders-inchief
US: President –
commander-in-chief;
can approve bills,
declare war

Legal Code

R: Law of the
Twelve Tables
 US:
Constitution
Legislative


R: Centuriate &
Tribal Assemblies –
declare war and pass
some laws, contained
entire electorate;
Senate – specialized
in foreign policy
US: HofR – all bills
dealing with taxes;
Senate – foreign
policy

R: Praetors – High
Judges, serve 2 year
terms; and Tribunes
– try court cases
US: Supreme Court
– 9 member court,
determines whether
laws are
unconstitutional
(appointed by
President, approved
by Senate); and
Lower Courts –
variety at state and
local levels
Republic:
Women
Patricians
Plebeians
Slaves
R:
R:
R:
R:
A:
A:
A:
A:
Citizens
R:
A:
Assembly
R:
A:
R:
Two Consuls
R:
Magistrates
Tribunes/Senate
R:
A:
A:
A:
Code of Law
R:
A:
Rome Becomes a Republic
Patricians and Plebeians: In The early days of the Roman
Republic, the heads of a few aristocratic families, known as
patricians, elected officials from among themselves. Organized in
clans, patrician families controlled every aspect of society- politics,
religion, economics, and the military. Patricians maintained their
power through a patronage system in which wealthy Romans
provided financial, social, or legal support for lower ranking families
in return in return for political backing and loyalty.
Almost from the beginning of the Republic, however, the common
people, or plebeians (pli-bee-uhns), challenged the patricians for
power. When invaders threatened Rome in 494 BC, the plebeians
seceded, or withdrew. They left Rome and refused to fight until
changes were made. Realizing they would not have an army
without the plebeians, the patricians grudgingly expanded plebian
rights. Once they received these new rights the plebeians returned
to defend the city. Back in Rome, they formed their own assembly,
the Plebeian Council. That assembly had the responsibility of
overseeing and protecting Plebeian affairs.
To guarantee their rights, the plebeians also gained the right to
elect officials known as tribunes. It was the tribunes’ job to protect
the plebeians against unjust treatment by patrician officials.
Eventually, these tribunes even gained the right to veto, or ban,
laws that seemed harmful or unjust to Plebeians.
Later, around 450 B.C. The plebian forced the patricians to have
all laws written down. The laws were displayed in the Roman
forum, or Central Square, on twelve large bronze tablets. As a
result, the code became known as the code of the Twelve Tables.
Because the laws were posted, patrician judges could not make
decisions based on their own opinions or on secret laws. However,
one of the newly posted laws, was a ban on marriage between
patricians and plebeians- an attempt by the patricians to preserve
their special status.
RepublicGovernment: Working together, the patricians and
plebeians created a practical and flexible unwritten constitution, or
political structure. They were extremely proud of this system. As
part of their new Republican constitution, the Romans created new
offices and institutions of government. Eventually, the government
consisted of three parts; (1) the Senate, a body of 300 members
who advised elected officials, controlled public finances, and
handle all foreign relations; (2) various popular assemblies, in
which all citizens voted on laws and elected officials;(3) officials
called magistrates, who put the laws into practice , governed in the
name of the Senate and the people, and acted as priests.
Though initially dominated by patricians, all state offices, including
the Senate, little later open to both patricians and plebeians.
When the last King of Rome was thrown out, his place was taken
by to magistrates called consuls. Elected for one year, the consuls
were both chief executives and commanders of the army.
In the 300’s BC Romans also began to elect magistrates called
praetors. Primarily judges, praetors could also act for the consuls
when the consuls were at war. As Rome expanded, both consuls
and praetors were usually given military commands or were
appointed as provincial governors after finishing their terms of
office. To assist the consuls and praetors, many other officials
were also elected to handle varies other aspects of the cities
administration.
One reason that Rome’s government worked well was that it
included a system of checked and balances, in which each part of
the government could impose certain constraints upon the others.
For example, the Senate could do little without the consent of the
consuls, but at the same time the consuls could not enact major
changes without funding from the Senate.
Life in the Republic: During the days of the Roman republic, Rome
was a vibrant and thriving city. At the heart of the city was the
Forum, the public square and the site of the most important
government buildings and temples. The Forum was nestled
between two hills-the palatine, on which many of Rome’s
wealthiest citizens lived, and the Capitoline, where the cities
grandest temples were. Because of this location, city leader could
often be found in the Forum, mingling with the citizens. The Senate
met in the Forum, and key public addresses were usually delivered
from a speaking platform there.
The Forum was more than a political center, though. It was also a
popular place for shopping and gossip. Busy shops lined either
side of the forum and public celebrations were commonly held
there. Indeed the Forum was the busiest place in an already busy
city.
Despite the bustling nature of their city, the Romans prided
themselves on their agrarian roots. Farming and landownership
were considered the noblest was to make money. In fact, Senators
were forbidden to participate in any career that did not involve
land. They could not, for example, engage in commerce.
The Roman tie to the land is illustrated in the legend of the early
republic. In this story, the people of Rome turn to their greatest
general, Cincinnatus, who was plowing his fields at the time, to
save them from an invasion. They made him dictator, an office that
gave its holder nearly unlimited power but could only be held for
six months. Dictators were chosen to resolve crisis that faced
Rome. As dictator, Cincinnatus defeated the enemies and returned
to his farm. He had no interest in retaining power but simply
wanted to get back to his normal life.
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Answer in
complete sentences.
1. What event caused a shift of power in Rome? What parties were
involved?
2. Name and describe the three parts of the Roman government.
3. Who appointed senators?
Next to the consuls, the most important magistrates were the
censors. Censors recorded the cities population and how much
property each person owned. They also appointed new senators
when vacancies appeared. The ability to select new Senators gave
the censors great influence in Roman society.
4. What is checks and balances?
5. Compare and contrast Roman Republic with the United States
government