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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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”