Download The Roman Republic

Chapter 12 Lesson 2


Explain the different circumstances that led
to the rise of the Roman Republic
Describe the features of the government of
the Roman Republic








Republic – citizens elect leaders to represent them
Tripartite – government was divided into 3 parts
which limited power of each part
Consul – replaced the king
Senate – group of 300 leaders who advised the
consuls
Dictator – leader who had complete power during his
time in office, which was limited to 6 months
Patrician – wealthy landowners from earliest settlers
of Rome
Plebeians – all Roman citizens who were not
patricians
Tribune – could veto any law unfair to the plebeians

In 509 BC the
Romans forced a
tyrannical king
named Tarquinis
Superbus from the
throne and began to
plan a government
in which no one
person could gain
total power

The Romans replaced the monarchy with a
tripartite republic composed of consuls, the
Senate, and the assemblies



The Roman Republic
had two main social
classes:
Wealthy Patrician
landowners who had
most of the power
Plebeians, who gained
more power over time
and who insisted that
the laws be written
down





In 509 BC, the Romans forced their cruel king
to leave the city
They created a new form of government
called the Republic
The Roman Republic had three parts:
Consuls, the Senate, and the assemblies to
limit the power of each part
In the Republic, the plebeians began to gain
more power
In about 450 BC, the Twelve Tables were
posted in the Forum

Why was Tarquinius Superbus overthrown?
◦ He ignored the needs of the people and also
committed terrible crimes against the Roman
people.

What were the three parts of the new Roman
government?
◦ The consuls, the Senate, and the assemblies.

What kind of protest did the plebeians use to
make the patricians change the government?
◦ They refused to fight in the army.