1. Plebeians Against Patricians
Rome’s Government
Plebeians Against Patricians
In 287 BC Plebeians finally gained the right to pass laws
Now all male citizens had equal political standing, at least in theory. P.3

2. Rome’s Government Cincinnatus
A feature of the Roman Republic was the office of dictator
Dictator-Oppressive ruler with complete control over the state

3. Rome’s Government Cincinnatus
Roman dictators had complete control, but they served temporarily during emergencies
As soon as danger or emergencies past Roman dictators gave up their power

4. Rome’s Government Cincinnatus Best Known dictator was Cincinnatus
In 460 BC Powerful enemy surrounded Rome
Officials wanted Cincinnatus, a farmer, for dictator

5. Rome’s Government Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus gathered an army and defeated the enemy.
Cincinnatus did not want power and returned to his farm

6. Rome’s Government Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus and Romans strongly believed in civic duty.
George Washington took inspiration from Cincinnatus

7. Rome’s Government Roman Law
One of Rome’s gifts to the world was its system of law.
The U.S. legal system owes much to the Roman system.

8. Rome’s Government Roman Law
Rome’s first code was the 12 Tables established about 451 BC.

9. Rome’s Government TABLE I Procedure: for courts and trials
TABLE II Trials, continued.
TABLE III Debt
TABLE IV Rights of fathers paterfamilias) over the family
TABLE V Legal guardianship and inheritance laws
TABLE VI Acquisition and possession

10. Rome’s Government TABLE VII Land rights
TABLE VIII Torts and delicts (Laws of injury)
TABLE IX Public law
TABLE X Sacred law
TABLE XI Supplement I
TABLE XII Supplement II

11. Rome’s Government Roman Law Rome’s first laws were not written down
Plebeians claimed Patrician judges favored the Patrician class
Patricians agreed and had the 12 Tables carved in bronze

12. Rome’s Government Roman Law
12 Tablets became the basis for all future Roman Law
Established the principal all free citizens had the right to be treated equally

13. Rome’s Government Roman Law
As Rome took over more lands they needed a system to settle legal disputes between citizens and non citizens
As a result they created a set of laws called the Law of Nations
8-2B

14. Rome’s Government Some Standards from the Law of Nations
1. Innocent until proven guilty
2. In charged with a crime you could
defend yourself.
3. A judge had to look at the evidence
before rendering a verdict
4. “The Rule of Law came from the Law of
Nations or that the law must apply
equally”