Warm Up You will be given 5 minutes to complete the following: 1. Brainstorm examples from history of situations in which people have not been treated equally, and explain why you think inequality exists 2. What methods have groups in the United States used to try to gain equal treatment under the law? 3. In countries where the leaders do not have the opportunity of reacting fairly to protests, what methods might people use to address unequal treatment?

Objective- SWBAT understand how conflict between classes changed Rome’s government.

Not everyone was treated fairly in the Roman Republic. Rome’s government reflected divisions within its society. What other societies have we discussed where social classes divided a society? (Turn and Talk)

Romans were divided into two classes: patricians and plebeians. The Patricians were Rome’s ruling class. They were wealthy landowners who came from Rome’s most prominent families. Most Romans were plebeians, who were not as wealthy as the patricians, and in some cases were very poor. Plebeians included artisans, shopkeepers, and owners of small farms.

Who is our society today in America might be considered a patrician? Who might be considered a plebeian? Both groups were considered citizens and had the right to vote, were required to pay taxes, and serve in the army. However, Plebeians lacked basic rights; they could not hold public office or lead the public ceremonies that honored the gods. They could also not marry people of the upper class.

How would that make you feel if those restrictions were placed on you? Rome’s republic would be shaped by a struggles between the patricians and the plebeians over the right to govern.

Guided Practice As a class on the smart board, we will create a web diagram to list facts about the plebeians and patricians and their roles in the government of Rome. After the diagram is complete, as a class we will have a discussion based upon the following questions: What did the plebeians want? Did the patricians want the plebeians to have the same rights as they did? Why or why not? Patricians Plebeians

Independent Practice Independently read a passage titled “Government of the Republic” and define the following vocabulary terms using context clues found in the text: Consuls Veto Praetors Legislature

Group Work Groups will have to answer the following comprehension questions based on the reading. Group 1-Was there a part of the reading that made you stop and think or ask questions? Which part? Explain Group 2-What do you think is the most important part of the reading? Why do you think it is important? How does the writer show that it is important? Group 3-Summarize this reading using the 5 W’s…. Who, what, when, where, and why Group 4-What is the main idea of the text? What are three details you used to support the main idea?

Closure Each group will present their answers to the class on the smart board.

Homework Read and answer comprehension questions on a reading titled “Conflict Between Classes”