in the beginning of the Roman Republic, all male descendants of the original tribes of Rome and over the age of 15 became citizens. Citizens of Rome worn togas to set them apart from slaves and noncitizens. There were several classes of citizenship. Full citizens, the patricians could vote, marry freebie persons, and practice commerce, own a business, and participate in the senate. The second class of citizen was the plebeians, were like the middle class. They could vote, marry freeborn persons and own a business. But could not participate in the senate. Then the slave class. which had very few rights. over time the plebeians gained power and were able to become consul. And the gap between the classes began to shrink until the Roman republic became the Roman Empire