Download Forget Hump Day* How about a Snow Day?

Forget Hump Day…
How about a Snow Day?
Roman Republic
“Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day”
Roman Republic Begins
• Founded as the “City on Seven Hills” in
present day Italy
• Drove out the hated Etruscan king in 509 BCE
• Set up a new government called a republic
– “Thing of the people”
– Roman citizens chose officials to represent them
– Goal to keep any individual from gaining too much
power
Senate
• Originally, the Senate was the most powerful
governing body (300 members) who debated and
voted on foreign affairs, laws, and finances.
• Senators served for life and were initially just made
up of wealthy, upper class men.
Patricians vs. Plebeians
• Patricians = members of the landholding upper
class
• Plebeians = the farmers, merchants, artisans, and
traders who made up the bulk of the population
and had little influence in government
• If there is a split between the
patricians and plebeians, what could
possibly go wrong in Rome?
Power of the Patricians
• Consuls = Elected leader of
the Roman Republic from
the patrician class. Could
only serve one term.
Expected to consult with the
Senate.
• Elected two consuls every
year to supervise the
business of government and
command the armies
• What are the benefits of having two
consuls?
• What could possibly go wrong?
Plebeians Demand Equality
• Laws of the 12 Tables set
up in the Forum
(marketplace) in 450 BCE
• Tribunes = Elected
officials from the Plebeian
class.
• In the senate, tribunes
could veto, or block, laws
they felt were harmful to
the Plebeians
• If the Roman Republic is a “thing of
the people,” why would the
Plebeians demand equality?
• Once they achieved these reforms,
what could possibly go wrong?
Dictators
• In the event of war or
emergency, the
Senate might choose
a dictator for Rome
• Dictator = granted
emergency powers to
rule for 6 months and
then gave up power.
Cincinnatus
• Considering the job of the dictator
and the story of Cincinnatus, what
could possibly go wrong with the
Roman Republic?