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The Roman Republic
Libertyville High School
Government: Aristocratic Republic (Oligarchy)
Two consuls Elected by Curia for a 1
year term Acted as check / balance
against each other
Two quaestors (financial managers)
Dictator In times of great danger,
temporary king appointed Held power for 6 months Given life / death power
Republic’s GovernmentNew Senate
300 senators All patricians Hereditary position Advised consuls
New popular assembly Elected all office holders All male citizens were
members Only patricians could hold
office Main way to express will
of people
Problems of Republic: Class Warfare
Patricians vs. plebeians – why?
Patricians Lived in cities whose walls
protected their property Bought their way out of
military service Patrician status inherited
Problems: Class warfare
Plebeians Lived outside cities When in army, lands
neglected During war, farms
devastated by enemy, families driven away
Army conscription increased from 10-16 years; thus, plebeians away for a long time
Problems: Class warfare
Law of debt If plebeians owned land,
they generally needed to borrow money to start farm
If they couldn’t pay debt, they were arrested, made slave of creditor
Creditor usually a patrician
Effect: keep poor in poverty
Problems: Class warfareUnequal division of land
All land acquired through war belonged to all people
But government in hands of patricians who used public lands for their own benefit
Allowed it to be used by other patricians
Patricians thought of public land as theirs!
Problem: Class Warfare
Plebeians revolted, threatened to start their own city near Rome
Patricians, seeing loss of their army, made legal changes
Table of Laws (450 BC)Legal changes
Cancel all debts and release all debtors from prison
Create new public office: Tribune
2 appointed from Plebian class
Given power to veto any patrician office holder who acted unjustly
Tribunes could not be arrested
Put on bronze tablets near forum
Roman Citizenship, post 450 BC
Rights Hold office, if patrician Vote Social intermarriage
(Patrician, plebian) Own property Enter into legal contracts
(become merchant)
Demands Service in army Pay taxes