Rome as a Republic Notes

Overview: Classes and Society

Not everyone was treated fairly; there were clear divisions in Roman society.

Two main classes:

Patricians: Ruling class of wealthy landowners.

Plebeians: Ordinary citizens (the majority).

Both groups: Adult men could vote, paid taxes, and served in the army.

Restrictions on plebeians: They were lower class, forbidden from marrying patricians, lacked many basic rights, and could not hold high office.

The Republic developed through the long power struggle between patricians and plebeians.

Government Structure

The Republic had three branches:

One made laws.

One ran daily affairs.

One acted as judges.

It had checks and balances but not a full separation of powers.

Consuls (2 patrician men): Headed the government, administered affairs, and led armies. Served only 1 year to limit power. Each could veto the other’s decisions.

Praetors: Government officials who interpreted the law, served as judges, and also led armies.

Senate: Rome’s main legislature.

Made up of about 300 patrician men.

Served for life.

Debated foreign policy, proposed laws, and approved construction of roads and temples.

Assembly of Centuries: Another legislative body. Elected consuls and praetors and passed laws. Like the Senate, it was dominated by patricians.

Conflict Between Classes (Struggle of the Orders)

Plebeians grew angry: they paid taxes and fought in the army but had little political power.

In 494 B.C., the plebeians went on strike (secession), forcing the patricians to grant them more rights.

Council of the Plebs: Elected officials called Tribunes.

Tribunes represented plebeian interests and could veto government decisions.

Over time, plebeians gained the right to become consuls and to marry patricians.

In 287 B.C., plebeians gained the right to pass laws binding on all Romans.

Despite reforms, a small number of wealthy patricians still dominated real power. Women had no political rights.

The Republic became more representative but was never a true democracy.

Cincinnatus and Civic Duty

In emergencies, the Romans could appoint a Dictator.

The dictator held complete control but was expected to resign and restore the regular government once the crisis ended. (This is different from the modern meaning of the word.)

Cincinnatus (famous example, 458 B.C.):

A respected former consul known for loyalty to Rome.

He was farming when the Senate appointed him after an enemy threatened the army.

He quickly organized an army, defeated the enemy, marched back to Rome, and gave up power after only 16 days.

He is widely admired as a model of civic duty.

The idea of civic duty was central to Roman values.

Later Americans (especially George Washington) admired Cincinnatus: both were farmers who left their land to lead armies when called and then voluntarily relinquished power.

Roman System of Law

Roman law strongly influenced the United States and many other legal systems.

Early laws were unwritten. Plebeians demanded they be written down so decisions would be fairer.

In 451 B.C., Rome adopted the first written code: the Twelve Tables.

Carved on 12 bronze tablets and displayed in the Roman marketplace.

Became the foundation for later Roman law.

Supported the principle that all free people (patrician and plebeian) should be treated equally under the law.

The Law of Nations later extended certain rights and legal protections to non-citizens living under Roman rule.

Roman Justice (Principles)

A person is innocent until proven guilty.

Accused people have the right to defend themselves.

Judges must consider all the evidence before reaching a verdict.

Rule of law: Laws apply to everyone equally, and the legal system should treat people fairly.

Fill-in-the-Blank PracticeComplete these from memory, then check the answers below.

The two main social classes in the early Roman Republic were the ________ (wealthy ruling landowners) and the ________ (ordinary citizens).

The two heads of the Roman government were called ________. They served for only ________ year(s) and each had the power to ________ the other.

The Roman legislature made up of about 300 patrician men who served for life was the ________.

In 494 B.C., the plebeians went on ________, which led to the creation of the Council of the Plebs and the office of ________ (who could veto government actions).

In 287 B.C., plebeians gained the right to ________ laws for all Romans.

In 458 B.C., ________ was appointed dictator while he was farming. He defeated the enemy and gave up power after only ________ days.

The first written Roman law code, adopted in 451 B.C. and displayed on bronze tablets in the marketplace, was called the ________ ________.

Roman justice held that a person is ________ until proven ________, and that the ________ of ________ means laws apply equally to everyone.

Answers

patricians; plebeians

consuls; 1; veto

Senate

strike (or secession); Tribunes

pass

Cincinnatus; 16

Twelve Tables

innocent; guilty; rule; lawThe Twelve Tables established the legal principles that determined whether a person was innocent or guilty under the rule of law, ensuring a fair process for all citizens.