LAYERED CURRICULUM
Roman Republic
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.***
1st - Your group must select the following roles.
Captain: This person is in charge of keeping the group on task.
Our captain is _______________.
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 _______________.
nd
2 - 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
Group Member Name
Activity # 1
Activity # 2
Activity # 3
Activity # 4
Activity # 5
Role Completion
Total Points
*Each activity is scored out of 2 points. Total activity is 12
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!
 If you ask Ms. Wrede a question that has already been
answered, she will smile … and this is your key to check this
sheet for the answer to your question.
Activity # 1 – Rome Becomes a Republic
Page 33 in your notebook
Individually
 Define Republic
 Read through “Rome becomes a Republic”
silently and annotate the reading. Break
the reading into 5 events that happened to
change Rome to a republic. Number them
1-5.
As a group
 Pick up blank paper from Ms. Wrede’s desk
 Divide the sheet into three sections:
Patricians & Plebeians, Republic
Government, Life in the Republic.
 Under each section, identify: Who? What?
Where? When? Why? How?
 On the reverse side: Draw a 5-slide cartoon
demonstrating how Rome became a
Republic
*To be turned in to Ms. Wrede*
Activity # 2 – The Roman Republic: Key
Features
Page 34 in your notebook
 Write one complete sentence answering the
question: Why is this key feature important?
 Write one paragraph (that’s 5 sentences),
answering the question: Which key feature is the
most important? Why?
Activity # 3 – Flow Chart
Page 35 in your notebook
 Design a 10-event flow chart from Rome’s
beginning to its end as a dictatorship (this
means using Activity # 1 from today and the Bell
Ringer!)
Activity # 4 – Writing Prompt
Page 36 in your notebook
 Writing prompt: How did Ancient Roman
government influence America?
*This will be done individually*
Activity # 5 – Rome vs. America
Page 37 in your notebook
 Complete the graphic organizer based on what
you have done in class today
Key Feature: Written Constitution
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
Republic:
Women
Women
Patricians
Plebeians
Slaves
R:
R:
R:
R:
A:
A:
A:
A:
Patricians
Plebeians
Slaves
R:
R:
R:
R:
A:
A:
A:
A:
Citizens
Citizens
R:
R:
A:
A:
Assembly
Assembly
R:
R:
A:
A:
Two Consuls
Two Consuls
Magistrates
R:
R:
Tribunes/Senate
R:
A:
A:
A:
R:
R:
Magistrates
Tribunes/Senate
R:
A:
A:
A:
Code of Law
Code of Law
R:
R:
A:
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.
Republic Government: 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.
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.
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.