Rome Powerpoint Slides 9-22

   Starting on slide 9, Chi Cago's Study Guide powerpoint describred how Lucius Tarquinias Superbus got into power. It also talked about how he was a tyrant, and the qualities that made him so. It all started when Servius Tullias, king appointed to power by Tarquin's grandfather's wife (widow at the time). Servius' daughters were to marry a pair of brothers, which included Tarquin. One of the daughters, Tullia, killed her huband and her sister to be with him! She was the one who convinced Taquin to take control and overthrow her father, S.T. (Servius Tullias). Once he came into power, he threw S.T. out on the streets and had him assassinated. He even ran over S.T.'s body with his chariot and refused to even bury his body! As we can see, Lucius Tarquinias Superbus was not only violent and brutal, but he was disrespectful. He is the kind of angry and forceful man we picture when we think about a tyrant. These terrible traits got passed down to his son, Sextus. He threatened a woman named Lucretia for not wanting to be with him and blackmailed her as well. These things, in turn turned out to be the cause of her suicide and is what drove her to killing herself. The people of Rome finally decided to stand up again Tarquin and his terrible family and made a whole new system of government. This government, in fact, can be compared to our United States government today, because there are many similarities and differences. A similarity, for starters, is that both governments consisted of three branches of government: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. Also, both the Roman Republic and the United States democracy had/have a legal code. One difference between these two governments, however, is that this government in Ancient Rome was ruled with two consuls, with equal power, who controlled the military, could veto power, and appoint a six-month dictator who could rule at a time of crisis. These consuls could be compared to our President (and Vice President today). The President can veto laws, like the Romans, control the military, like the Romans, rule for a four-year term (unlike the Romans, who had a one-year term), but the US President or Vice President cannot appoint a dictator. Another difference in governments comes from the judicial branch. In Ancient Rome, this branch consisted of Praetors, who were chosen by the Centuriate Assembly. In today's United States, however, the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, who are appointed for lifetime terms, and not one-year terms, like the Romans. The members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.