1. Lesson 5: Citizens of Rome

2. Plebeian Unrest 450 B.C. – barbarian raids on Roman territory
Patricians needed an army
449 B.C. – Plebeians left in the second “Secessio plebis” or Secession of the Plebs, refusing to serve
Patricians gave in

3. Twelve Tables First written code of laws, making the laws clear to all
Table One – Plaintiff (person making a complaint against another in court) must summon defendant (person being accused) to court
Table Eleven – Forbade marriage between plebeians and patricians

4. Laws Law of Citizens – applied to just citizens
Foreigners could become citizens (unlike in Greece)
Women not full citizens; under guardianship of their fathers and then their husbands
Law of Peoples – applied to non-citizens
Used in Roman provinces
Slaves had few rights, but could be freed by their masters

5. SPQR Senatus Populusque Romanus – The Senate and the People of Rome
Romans proud of their republican government

6. Roman Heritage Later legal systems influenced by Rome
Terminology still used: government, legal, constitution, court, judge, senate, president, council, and citizen
U.S. government = a republic, influenced by ancient Rome
Cincinnatus – Roman farmer who became dictator during a war but gave up his power when the war was over
Similarly, President George Washington refused to run for president again after serving two terms

7. p. 181, Refocus-Comprehension Questions, #s1-2
1) Why were the Twelve Tables important? - They are the first written laws of the Roman Republic. 2) What rights did women have? - A woman could own property but her father or husband took care of it.