Download The Roman Republic

Hello
History
Students!!
Rome’s Republic was shaped by a struggle
between wealthy landowners and regular
citizens as it gradually expanded the right
to vote.
Chapter 8 Section 2
By: Mrs. Deborah Thompson
Early Romans were divided into two classes:
Patricians
Wealthy
landowners
who made up
Rome’s ruling
class.
Plebeians
Group which
included artisans,
shopkeepers, and owners
of small farms.
they had less social
status and could not
hold public office.
Both were Roman citizens with the right
to vote,the responsibility to pay taxes,
and serve in the army.
The top government
officials
were consuls
from the
patrician
class.
Each consul
could
veto or reject
the other’s
decision.
Two consuls were
chosen each year to
head the army
and run the
government.
Praetors
were chosen to
act as judges
and interpret
the law.
Rome’s most important legislative or lawmaking body
300 patrician men who served for life.
They proposed laws, held debates on important
issues and approved building programs. Who made
the
Laws?
Another Legislative body that:
1.elected consuls and praetors
2. passed laws.
These are the steps to …
First:
•Plebeians became angry about their lack
of power in the Roman Republic.
Next:
•They went on strike, refused to serve
in the army, and left the city to set up
their own republic.
Then:
What
happene
d?
•The Patricians agreed to allow Plebeians to set up their
own body of representatives called the Council of the
Plebs with elected Tribunes to represent them.
After that:
•Eventually Tribunes won the right to veto
government decisions, Plebeians were allowed to
marry Patricians and become consuls.
As a result:
•In 287 B.C. the Council of the Plebs gained the
power to pass laws for all Romans.
An unusual feature of the
Roman Republic
was the office of dictator.
Roman dictators had complete
control, but served the people
and ruled on a temporary
basis during emergencies.
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus c. 519–438 B.C.
The best known
early
Roman dictator.
The inspiration for
George Washington
A loyal and devoted citizen
who was to become
dictator when a powerful
enemy had surrounded the
Roman army.
Defeated the enemy
quickly, gave up the
position of dictator and
returned to his farm.
One of Rome’s chief gifts to the world
was its system of law. it was the model
for the government of the United States.
Became the basis
Rome’s
for all future
first code of laws The Twelve Tables
Roman laws
was the
were placed in the
and established
Twelve Tables .
Forum,
the principle that
it was demanded
Rome’s
all free citizens
by the
marketplace.
had the right
Plebeians.
to be treated
equally by the
legal system.
As the Romans took over more lands, new rules were
needed to solve legal disputes between
citizens and non-citizens.
They created a collection of laws called the
Law of Nations that stated principles of justice that
applied to all people everywhere and included:
A person is seen as
innocent until
proven guilty.
People accused of
crimes could defend
themselves.
The Romans established the rule of law :
the idea that the law should apply to
everyone equally and that all people should
be treated the same way by the law.
Rome slowly destroyed the Carthaginian Empire
and took control of the entire Mediterranean region.
While Rome developed it’s government, it also
faced challenges abroad.
Their enemy was the state of Carthage on the
coast of North Africa and southern Europe.
Founded by the Phoenicians, Carthage ruled a
great trading empire and made itself the largest
and richest city in the western Mediterranean.
Both Carthage and
Rome wanted
control
of Sicily and went to
War for it in 264 B.C
The Romans built a
large fleet of ships
and fought 20 years
to defeat the
Carthaginians
It was called the
First Punic War.
Punicus is Latin for
Phoenician.
Sicily came under
Roman rule.
After losing Sicily, Carthage began to
expand it’s empire into southern
Spain close to the
Roman borders.
Carthage
Rome
sent it’s
became
greatest
angry and
general,
encouraged
Hannibal, to
people
attack Rome
in Spain to
and take the
rebel.
war to
Italy.
The Second Punic War began.
Hannibal’s strategy was to take the war to Italy.
He took 46,000 men, many horses, and 37
elephants and crossed the Alps into Italy. Many died.
Hannibal defeated the Romans at the
Battle of Cannae by overpowering them.
A Roman army led by Scipio attacked Carthage
and Hannibal was forced to return home.
Scipio defeated the Carthagians and forced them to
give up Spain. Rome now ruled the Mediterranean.
1. Hannibal’s strategy was to take the war to
Italy.
2. He took 46,000 men, many horses, and 37
elephants and crossed the Alps into Italy.
Many died.
3. Hannibal defeated the Romans at the Battle
of Cannae by overpowering them.
4. A Roman army led by Scipio attacked
Carthage and Hannibal was forced to return
home.
5. Scipio defeated the Carthaginians and forced
them to give up Spain. Rome now ruled the
Mediterranean.
Carthage remained a trading center until
146 B.C. Rome finally destroyed it in the
Third Punic War.
The Romans burned Carthage and
enslaved 50,000 men, women and children.
Legends say they scattered salt to destroy
the land for agriculture.