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