Key Vocabulary: social class, patrician, plebeian, monarchy, republic, democratic,
Senate, consul, tribune, veto, constitution
Preview: Describe a time when you felt you were treated unfairly. What actions did you
take to improve the situation? What actions could you have taken that you didnʼt? Why
didnʼt you?
When the Roman Republic was founded, some people had more rights than others.
Just as you tried to improve the situation you described in the Preview, some Romans
attempted to gain greater equality and power in their government. You are about to
learn how this struggle for equality led to a more democratic government in the Roman
Republic.
Section 33.2
1. Who ruled Rome between 616 and 509 BC? The Etruscans
2. Who were the patricians? How much power did they have? small group of wealthy
landowners.
3. Who were the plebeians? How much power did they have? peasants, laborers,
craftspeople, and shopkeepers. They had very little voice in the government.
Section 33.3
1. Summarize the change in Roman government from monarchy to a republic. Brutus
led a revolt against the Etruscan kings, overthrowing them. He became one of the
first leaders in the Roman Republic. Romans were now free to govern themselves,
but power was not equal. The patricians (rich men) had all the power
2. What was the balance of power between patricians and plebeians when the republic
was first created? All the power was in the hands of the patricians.
3. Why was the balance of power like this? Power was in the hands of the Senate.
Only patricians could be senators and consuls. Patricians elected the senators.
Section 33.4
1. Explain the Conflict of Orders, and how Rome reached this point. The Conflict of
Orders is the conflict between the two social classes, the patricians and the
plebeians. The conflict occurred because the patricians held the power. They made
the decisions and interpreted the laws to benefit themselves.
2. Why were the patricians frightened by the actions of the plebeians? Patricians were
frightened by the actions of the plebeians because the work on the farms and in the
city cam to a halt. Also, patricians were afraid that, without plebeians, the arm was
too weak to defend Rome.
The Roman REpublic
I can summarize the rise of the Roman Republic.
