Indiana Social Studies WH.2.3

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Classical Civilizations: 1000 BCE to 600 CE

The Standard

Trace the changes that culminated in the end of the Republic and the formation of the Roman Empire.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Trace how land disputes, generals' control of armies, and civil wars weakened the Roman Republic. Explain how Octavian gained power and became Augustus while keeping republican offices.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students put the Gracchi, Sulla, Caesar, and Octavian in order on a timeline. They explain why Caesar's death did not restore republican rule and how Augustus held power while the Senate remained.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call Caesar Rome's first emperor or assume the Republic ended when he was killed. They may miss that decades of conflict and army loyalty to generals made the change possible.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Put Sulla's march on Rome, Caesar's assassination, and Octavian's victory at Actium in order. Explain one way Augustus held power while keeping the Senate.

Lesson moves

Give pairs dated event cards for the Gracchi, Sulla, Caesar, and Octavian; have them build a timeline with string linking causes to effects.
Write a response to this prompt: Why did Caesar's assassination not restore the Republic? Cite two events after 44 BCE.
Play 'Who holds power?': Read cards about Sulla's army, Caesar's dictatorship, and Augustus's titles; teams score points by naming who controlled each decision.
Read the 22nd Amendment, then compare its presidential term limit with Caesar's lifetime dictatorship in a two-column chart.

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