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Establishment Of Roman Republic Essay

783 Words4 Pages

University of the People
HIST 1421 AY2023-T4
Christopher Stender, Instructor
2 May 2023

Introduction
The establishment of the Roman Republic was a gradual, multi-century process. At the beginning of the sixth century BCE, Rome was governed by a monarchy. In 509 BCE, however, a group of aristocrats overthrew the monarchy and established a new system of government in which authority was divided between two elected consuls. This signified the start of the Roman Republic (National Geographic, 2022).
In response to the excesses of the monarchy and the need for a more representative government, aristocrats founded the Republic. The Republic was distinguished by its intricate system of checks and balances, with the consuls, the Senate, …show more content…

What circumstances led to the establishment of the Roman Republic?
Several political, social, and economic factors contributed to the establishment of the Roman Republic. An important factor was the discontent of the plebeians (the common population) with the patricians (the ruling class). The commoners desired increased political power and representation in government (Lumen Learning, n.d.).
Another factor was the need for a new form of government following the overthrow of the Roman monarchy in 509 BCE. The Roman Republic was founded as a compromise between patricians and plebeians, with a complex system of checks and balances to prevent any one group from acquiring too much power (Lumen Learning, n.d.).
In addition to coinciding with a period of territorial expansion and conquest, the establishment of the Roman Republic coincided with the beginning of Rome's influence expansion across Italy and beyond. This expansion created new economic opportunities for the Romans and heightened social and political tensions as various groups competing for power and resources (Lumen Learning, …show more content…

The existence of elected officials, such as consuls and tribunes, who represented the people's interests was a crucial aspect of democracy. Consuls were the highest-ranking elected officials in the Roman Republic and were chosen by the people for one-year mandates. The ability to veto each other's decisions was a check on their authority (National Geographic Society, n.d.).
The existence of assemblies, such as the Assembly of the Centuries and the Assembly of the Tribes, which gave the people a voice in governance, was another element of democracy. These assemblies, composed of citizens, had the authority to adopt laws and elect officials (National Geographic Society, n.d.).
However, it is essential to note that the Roman Republic was not a true democracy. Not everyone had the right to participate in government, as power was concentrated in the hands of an affluent and privileged elite. For instance, women, captives, and noncitizens were excluded from the political process. Despite this, the Roman Republic is considered a significant precursor to modern democratic systems (National Geographic Society,

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