Do-now What type of government do we have in the U.S.?

The Roman World

The Roman city-state

The Roman city-state Expanded easily due to geography (land, people, resources) Mountain range (Apennine Mts.) are less rugged than Greece Fertile plains

Ancient Romans The ancestors of the Romans were the Latins The Latin language is the basis of many of the European languages today.

The Etruscans

The Etruscans Ruled over the Roman City-State Cultural Diffusion Romans assimilate the basic Greek alphabet, architecture and various deities into their culture

The Roman Revolution! In 509 BC (before Caesar's calendar) the Romans rebel against the Etruscans and gain independence. In 1776 the Americans will rebel against the British and gain independence

Developing a government The Romans developed a government where they chose their leaders The birth of the Republic- system of government where officials are chosen by the people The United States is a Republic

Roman social classes Patricians – upper class citizens Large Landholders Plebeians – lower class citizens Farmers, merchants, artisans and traders

The Republic The Romans elected 300 Patricians to create a governing body called the Senate Only Patricians could be elected to the Senate Senators were elected for life The United States has a governing body in the Congress that is called the Senate There are 100 Senators (2 per state)

Consuls The Senators elected 2 Patricians to be consuls New Consuls would be chosen each year To make sure that no one individual gained too much power thus creating a system of checks and balances The United States uses checks and balances between our three branches of government

The Two Consuls One consul would supervise the business of the government The other consul would supervise the armies of Rome

War! In the event of war all the power of Rome was entrusted into the hands of one man Why? One person can make quick decisions and speed up the movements of armies and government policies and the creation of laws The United States elects a President to do this Dictator – a ruler who has complete control over a government

Dictator Only had complete power for 6 months Fear too much power in the hands of one man Cincinnatus – was made dictator, organized and led the army in victory and returned home and gave up power in only 16 days

The Twelve Tables Plebeians were often ignorant of the laws the Patrician dominated Senate created. (no CNN or Fox News back then) The Senate had Twelve Tables erected in the Forum (central marketplace) that had all the laws of Rome inscribed in them

The Tribunes The lower class Romans were often overlooked by laws created by the Patrician dominated Senate The Plebeians elected their own officials to watch over the Senate They were not part of the Senate just observers

The Veto The Tribunes could not make laws in the Senate but could stop any law the Senate creates Gives political power to the Plebeians Today the United States President can veto any law the Congress passes

The Legacy of Government The United States as well as other nations around the world will base their governments on the ideas originally developed in Rome over 2,000 years ago! The Senate, veto, checks and balances