Republic In Ancient Rome

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Term:
The term is Republic.
Definition
(What is it?)
A republic is a system of government in which officials are chosen by the people.
Significance
(Why is it important? Short term effect)
A republic was important, in ancient Rome, because this system prevented by individual from gaining too much power. In the early republic, the senate made the laws and controlled the government. Originally, its 300 members were all patricians, or members of the landholding upper class. Each year, the senators nominated two consuls from the patrician class. Their job was to supervise the business of government and commanded the armies. Consuls, however, could serve only one term. They were also expected to approve each other’s decisions. By limiting their …show more content…
Plebeians, the farmers, merchants, and artisans who made up most of the population, had the legal rights of citizenship but little influence. Plebeian demands for power shaped politics in the early republic. In time, the plebeians gained the right to elect their own officials, called tribunes, to protect their interests. The tribunes could veto, or block, laws that they felt were harmful to plebeians. Little by little, plebeians forced the senate to choose plebeians as consuls and to admit plebeians as members of the senate itself. These changes made Rome’s government more democratic
Relevance
(So what? Long term/future effect)
The long term/future effect of a Patrician and a Plebeian is that these two groups, working against each other, introduced an additional government system of democracy. There are numerous countries around the world, that currently, operate under a democracy. A democracy is a government in which the people hold ruling power. The United States is similar to a democracy type government, but in the United States citizens vote for representatives, regarding laws. This type of voting system is how a Republic is, however there are multiple other aspects that make the United States a partial democracy type of government. …show more content…
For a time, Caesar and another brilliant general, Pompey, dominated Roman politics. In 58 B.C., Caesar set out with his army to make new conquests. After nine years of fighting, he completed the conquest of Gaul - the area that is now France and Belgium. Fearful of Caesar’s rising frame, Pompey persuaded the senate to order Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome. Caesar defied the order. Swiftly and secretly, he led his army across the Rubicon River into northern Italy and headed toward Rome. Once again, civil war erupted across the Roman

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