Download 13 Roman Republic

THE ROMAN
REPUBLIC
JANUARY 23, 2017
FOUNDING OF ROME
• Legend: two
brothers, Romulus
and Remus, are
raised by a wolf
• Once they had
grown, they founded
Rome, naming it for
Romulus
• Actual founding is
not truly known
ROMAN KINGS
• Early Rome was ruled by
a king (monarchy)
• Six of them were good,
but the 7th was cruel
• The people revolted in
509 BC and started a
new government
• They chose to start a
republic
WHAT IS A REPUBLIC?
• A form of government
in which the citizens
select their leaders
• These leaders represent
citizens’ interests when
passing laws
• Rome did not want a
king nor did they want
direct democracy (like
Athens)
ROMAN REPUBLIC
• Rome had two
classes of people
• Plebeians – lower
class (commoners)
• Patricians – upper
class (rich nobles)
• These classes often
avoided one another
(sometimes by law)
ROMAN REPUBLIC
•
Both of these
classes were
represented in the
government
•
There were four
main groups of
officials in the
government
•
Consuls, tribunes,
senators, & the
assembly
CONSULS AND TRIBUNES
•
Consuls (2)
• Leaders of Rome
• 1 plebeian; 1 patrician
• Re-elected every year
• Made the main gov’t
decisions
• Tribunes (10)
• Group of plebeians
only
• Passed laws that only
applied to plebs
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
•
Senate (300)
• Comprised of both
classes (majority
patricians)
• Served for life
• Controlled the money
• Most powerful group
•
Assembly of Citizens
• Any male citizen in Rome
• Had to agree with all laws passed
• Provided a check on the government