Chapter 11 Lesson 2

 ID Terms: PATRICIAN, PLEBIANS, CONSUL, VETO, PRAETOR, TRIBUNE, DICTATOR, CIVIC DUTY  Discuss how each social class in Rome had its own perspective.  Explain how conflict was resolved between the patricians and the plebeians.

 Not everyone was treated fairly in the Roman Republic.  Early Romans were divided into two classes, PATRICIANS (wealthy landowners) or PLEBEIANS ( poor, smaller landowners, shopkeepers)  Both were allowed to vote and had civic responsibilities (taxes, army), but the plebeians could not hold public office.

 The government of the Republic was divided into three branches.  One branch makes laws, another branch ran the daily affairs of government and the third branch was made up of judges.  There was also a system of checks and balances in place to prevent any of the branches from becoming too powerful  We have a similar system in our country TODAY…

CONSULS  Two patricians called CONSULS, headed the government. CONSUL  Each CONSUL was an administrative and military leader. They served one year in office. CONSULVETO CONSUL  Each CONSUL could VETO (reject) the other CONSUL PRAETORS  Rome also had PRAETORS who served as judges and army officials.  The Senate was Rome’s legislature. 300 members -they served for life.

 As time passed, the plebeians grew frustrated.  Why? They had to serve in the army and pay taxes, but they had no government power.  There were several strikes by the plebeians. Eventually, the patricians allowed the plebeians to have their own body of representatives, The Council of the Plebs. TRIBUNES  Plebeians elected officials called TRIBUNES. TRIBUNES  These TRIBUNES helped to make the Roman Republic more representative, but it was not fully democratic