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The Roman Republic Essay

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Unit 4 Written Assignment
HIST 1421
University of the People
Instructor: Christopher Stender

The Struggle Towards Democracy: The Road to the Establishment of the Roman Republic

Rome's road to democracy was riddled with numerous struggles against kingship, as the people sought to establish a fair and equitable government that represented their best interests. In this paper, I will identify the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic, the elements of the republic that made it democratic, and those that called into question its democratic nature.

Circumstances that led to the Establishment of the Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was established in 509 BCE after the overthrow of King Tarquin the …show more content…

Several elements of the Republic made it democratic, as follows:

1. The laws: In the Roman Republic, laws were created by elected officials, including the tribunes and the consuls. This meant that the laws represented the people rather than the ruler or …show more content…

Lack of Public Participation: Only adult male citizens who could prove their Roman ancestry could vote, which excluded women, children, and non-Romans from the democratic process.

3. Elite Dominance: Despite efforts to include plebeians in the Senate and the creation of representative government, the Republican period in Rome was still marked by strong elite dominance, which meant that a small number of wealthy individuals had significant control over the government.

In conclusion, the establishment of the Roman Republic marked a significant milestone in the history of Rome. It was a move towards an equitable government that represented the people's interests. While there were several elements of the Republic that made it democratic, the exclusion of women, slaves, and non-Romans from the democratic process, and the elite dominance of the government, called into question its democracy. Nonetheless, the road to democracy marks struggles that were fought against an undemocratic monarch that governed with oppression, violence, and totalitarianism that arrived at a smooth representative form of government for

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