Question

What rights did the plebs gain with the tribunes?

1) Right to hold public office
2) Right to vote
3) Right to own property
4) Right to pass laws

Answer 1

The plebs, represented by their tribunes, gained the right to vote, hold public office, and pass laws that applied to all Roman citizens, contributing to the end of the legal distinction between plebeian and patrician citizens.

Step-by-step explanation:

The plebs gained significant rights with the tribunes, including the right to vote, the right to hold public office, and the right to pass laws that applied to all Roman citizens. After 367 BCE, it was mandated that one of the two consuls, the highest elected officials in the Roman Republic, had to be a plebeian. Then, following 287 BCE, the Plebeian Assembly, under the influence of the tribunes, could pass legislation for the entire republic. The Plebeian Assembly's laws were binding for all citizens, effectively ending the distinction in legal rights between plebeians and patricians.

Despite these legal advancements, the plebeians still faced significant inequality as wealthy plebeians often aligned with patricians, outnumbering the votes of poorer plebeians. This newly formed Roman aristocracy continued to hold substantial power through both wealth and political influence.