Though the Roman Republic displayed many values of democracy, there was a tendency to
favor wealthy patricians, Early on, patricians held all of the political power. Plebeians had
no way to read laws that were being passed in the Senate. This put plebeians at risk of being
punished for crimes they didn't understand or know existed. In 494 BCE, fed up with their
lack of say in the political process, plebeians revolted and left the city. With common people
gone, there was no one left to handle the labor that kept the city running, and the Roman
military was at risk of losing a huge portion of its troops. As a result of this collective action
by the working class, the patricians had to negotiate a deal with plebeians. New political
offices and voting assemblies were created, and Roman laws were inscribed in bronze and
displayed publicly in the forum for all to see and understand in 451 BCE.
With which of the following statements would a member of the plebeian revolt most
likely agree?
A
Laws should be kept in the hands of a small number of powerful people.
B
It is fair to convict someone of a crime they had no opportunity to know existed.
c) Laws cannot be fair unless they are accessible for all to read and understand.
Anyone convicted of a crime should be punished to the greatest extent allowed
by law.