American Vs Plebeian Class Essay

518 Words3 Pages

Once united by a common goal to over throw a tyrant king, the patrician and plebeian classes found themselves at odds. Making up the Roman Republic, both classes enjoyed privileges despite their differences in daily life. Both classes lived lives with rights above the slave class though due often to war the plebeian class often found themselves able to be made lower than the patrician class which this paper will discuss as it leads to and uprising to replace the power structure of the Roman Republic.

Economically, the plebeian class were tradesmen or a working class. This did not mean that plebeians were unhealthy however being the ones who went off to war they commonly found themselves indebted to the patrician class which had sever consequences should they fall behind in payment. The patrician class was an elite class with great wealth and influence. In politics we see the common trend of equal but with stipulations. While the plebeian class was able to vote and participate in political right they were unable to hold …show more content…

“As the patricians saw that the plebeians were growing stronger, they resorted to a new plan to keep as much power as possible in their own hands.” (Morey, 1901). Eventually, the plebeian class fed up with the inequality in their treatment, abandoned the patricians to find their own way to survived without the assistance of the plebeians who provided their many needed services. Being that they were trades people with holding their value to the Roman Republic allowed them an advantage over the patricians as it slowed the commerce of the area. “There was then no longer any civil or political distinction between the patrician and the plebeian. The old Roman aristocracy, which depended upon family relationship, passed away with the Licinian legislation and the laws which soon followed it.” (Morey,