Download Name: Section: 1-_____ DOCUMENT 1 INTRODUCTION After a 16

April
Name: __________________________________
Section:
2013
1-_____
Romanization: Law & Government
History Assignment C1Y1
Prepared by Mr. Pantano
JP1
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DOCUMENT 1
INTRODUCTION
After a 16-year battle with their last king, Tarquin the Proud, the people of Rome vowed
never to be ruled by a king again. The people wanted to be ruled by elected leaders. They
wanted to vote on any laws suggested. They wanted to vote on who would rule over them
each year.
In 509 BCE, over 2500 years ago, the citizens of Rome created a new government. They
called it THE ROMAN REPUBLIC.
Although many things had changed and much had improved, women, children, and slaves
were still not citizens of Rome. They had no voice in government. Only adult free Roman
men were citizens.
But, things did improve under the Republic. About 50 years after the Roman Republic was
formed, the leaders of the Republic wrote down many of the old laws, to make sure
everyone understood them. History refers to this group of laws as "The Twelve Tables"
because the written laws were organized into 12 sections.
These laws talked about property, crime, family, theft, marriage and inheritance. It does
not really matter what they said, although the laws did try to be fair. What matters is
that these laws were written down. They were engraved on tablets of metal and put on
display at the Forum in the city of Rome, so that everyone could see them.
Each law applied to every Roman citizen, be he rich or poor. That was a huge change for
the better!
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DOCUMENT 2
Introduction to the Twelve Tables
The Twelve Tables represent an early attempt by the Romans to form a system of civil law
for their simple farming society. Historians have only found fragments of the tables, but
these fragments provide much information about early Roman life and values. Many of the
principles covered in the Twelve Tables remain important today. Others would be rejected
in a democratic society.
Here are a few of the laws in the Twelve Tables (reworded)
1. If you are called to go to court, you must go. If you don’t show up, you can be taken to
court by force.
2. If you need a witness to testify and he will not show up, you can go once every three
days and shout in front of his house.
3. Should a tree on a neighbor's farm be bent crooked by the wind and lean over your
farm, you may take legal action for removal of that tree.
4. If it's your tree, it’s your fruit, even if it falls on another man’s land.
5. A person who had been found guilty of giving false witness shall be hurled down from
the Tarpeian Rock.
6. No person shall hold meetings by night in the city.
7. A dead man shall not be buried or burned within the city.
8. Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians. (As time went on,
this law was changed. When the tables were first written, this was the law.)
http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/justinianscode.html
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DOCUMENT 3
Justinian's Code
Emperor Justinian wanted to preserve all the laws that began in Ancient Rome by writing
them down. In ancient Rome, those laws were called the Twelve Tables. Emperor Justinian
collected up all the old laws, and added new ones that gave his people even more rights.
One of the laws in Justinian's Code stated that a person was innocent until proven guilty.
Can you think of any country today that has this same law? Well, sure - we do! Many
countries do, including the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and
others.
Justinian wrote laws that were fair for everyone because he thought about the needs of
all the people. He did such a good job way back in 500 AD that new and existing
governments still refer to his laws as guides when creating laws for their own countries
today!
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DOCUMENT 4
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Did you know that the purpose of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is to protect
Canadians from unfair government actions? The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is an
important document found inside Canada’s Constitution Act of 1982.
Canadians are very lucky because they can do certain things in everyday life without
government intervention. Some of the rights guaranteed for Canadians include the
right:

To vote for their own government once they are old enough, which means people, can
choose a candidate of their choice to vote into an elected office.

To run for elected office, which means people, can enter a race to become an
elected official.

To have freedom of speech, which means people can state their opinions even if they
are disapproving of the government.

To freedom and religion, which means people, can belong to any religion they choose,
or not belong to any religion.

Of freedom of association, which means people, can belong to any group or
organization they choose.

To movement, which means people, can travel throughout Canada without anyone’s
permission.

To have a fair trial if arrested or accused of a crime.

To be treated equally under the law, which means all people are treated the same no
matter who they are.
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Refer to Document 1 to answer questions 1, 2 and 3.
1. Why did the Romans no longer want to be ruled by a king? (2)
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2. Who was considered a citizen in Roman society? (1)
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3. What did these laws talk about? (4)
a. __________________________
c. __________________________
b. __________________________
d. __________________________
Refer to Document 2 to answer questions 4, 5 and 6.
4. Why were the Twelve Tables introduced in Roman society? (2)
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5. List one law, from the Twelve Tables, that you think could still be used today. Explain
your choice. (2)
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6. List one law, from the Twelve Tables, that you think could no longer be used today.
Explain your choice. (2)
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Refer to Document 3 to answer questions 7, 8 and 9.
7. Why did Emperor Justinian create new laws? (1)
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8. Why was the Justinian Code believed to be fair? (2)
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9. How has the Justinian Code affected our laws today? (1)
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Thinking about: Systems of government
10. Use the internet to match the correct definition to each term. (6)
Anarchy
A country without a king or
emperor
Republic
A government by the people;
especially : rule of the
majority
Dictatorship
A country that still has a
king or queen as the
Constitutional monarchy
symbolic head of state
It has the power to make
Democracy
laws and to enforce them
Tyranny; when one person
Government
has absolute power
Countries that have no
government
11. Would you classify Canada as a democracy or as a dictatorship? Do some
research and find at least one (1) fact to support your answer. (2 marks)
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Refer to Document 4 for the following cases. Read each case and decide whether
the person’s rights were violated, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms. Do not forget to explain your answers!
Each Question is worth 2 marks
12. Adam was accused of vandalizing an exterior wall of a shopping center. Police
picked him up in close proximity of the crime scene. He claims that he is innocent.
He is refused a lawyer. He is eventually found guilty and receives a criminal record.
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13. A young man was fired from his job after revealing to his colleagues that he is
a practicing Muslim.
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14. John was fired from his job after his boss found out that he is a Habs fan and
is a member of the Canadiens Official Fan Club.
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16. Michael was arrested after he respectfully stated his opinion on our Prime
Minister‘s performance in government. (3)
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