5-5-15

We learned about the government in ancient Rome. The rules of the kings were replaced by the rule of the consul. The consuls were elected officials and only were there for one year. And unlike other government officials, who can run again right after, they had to wait 10 years before they can run again. The consuls were always aristocrats who were patricians. The consuls we supposed to deal with justice, make laws, and commanding the army. In the fifth century, patricians dominance of the government was challenged by the plebeians, who were everyday, middle class, people who were 98% of the population. Ways that the patricians controlled them were that, the plebeians had to serve in the army, but could not hold office, they were threatened with debt slavery, and they had no legal rights. The plebeians were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials. Rome had actual laws but they were unwritten custom, and patricians could use this to their own advantage. To stop the mistreatment, the plebeians decided that they would refuse to serve in the military until laws were written out (the laws of the 12 tables) and the laws were posted in public, and tribunes (tribal leaders) were elected.