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Latin 1A Magistra Kelleher Historical Figures #5: The Gracchi Rome entered the later part of the 2nd Century BC as a prosperous growing empire. It had conquered Carthage and taken control of Spain and Northern Africa as a result of the Punic Wars. It had also conquered in the east and taken control of Macedon and Greece. Rome had quickly become a wealthy and powerful empire, but with great growth came a new variety of difficulties. An influx of foreign slaves captured through military conquest left many poor Roman citizens unemployed. Wealthy landowners began take over the farms of poorer farmers leaving them unemployed as well. Soldiers who returned from war expected to be given their own farmland, but while they awaited their land grants, they too were unemployed. Huge crowds swarmed to Rome looking for the politicians to alleviate the troubles. In 133 BC Tiberius Gracchus was elected “tribune of the plebs”. Tiberius was an aristocrat, the grandson of Scipio Africanus, who became the hero of the poor people. The tribunes were the representatives of the plebs (poor people) who had the powers to veto laws of the Senate and propose new laws. This office was designed to protect the plebs, but it also gave the tribune sway over the masses of Rome. Tiberius stated that he recognized the plight of the unemployed peasants. On a trip through Italy he had seen the great numbers of people suffering from losing their land and he wanted to help them. Tiberius’ solution was for Rome to grant small tracts of newly conquered land to the poor rather than giving it in mass to the aristocracy. The people loved Tiberius’ plan, but the Senate and the aristocracy hated it and accused Tiberius of using this plan to gain glory and take over the Roman state. The Senate did many things to thwart Tiberius’ plan and stated that he had overstretched his powers as tribune because it was the Senate’s job to allot land. The Senate planned to wait out Tiberius and bring him to trial when his one year term ended. Tiberius shocked everyone by choosing to run for reelection. Since politicians were only supposed serve for one year, the Senate feared that Tiberius was hoping that the people would declare him king. During Election Day, a riot broke out on the polling field. In the midst of the riot Tiberius Gracchus was killed. This was the first time in many years that civil violence had disrupted the Roman Republic, but the violence did not end with the death of Tiberius Ten years after the death of Tiberius Gracchus, his younger brother, Gaius, a true revolutionary, was elected tribune of the plebs. Like his older brother, Gaius fought for reforms that would benefit the plebians, and anger the aristocracy. Unlike his brother, Gaius’ reforms dealt with more than just land and he was more effective at pushing his reforms through. He passed laws that kept the price of grain low, changed the jury system so plebians could sit as jurors, and worked toward reforming the land allotments. Gaius was a compelling orator and soon masses of people crowded to hear him speak and proclaimed him a hero of the poor. He also extended his sphere of influence outside of Rome by campaigning for citizenship for Rome’s Italian allies. After a year in office Gaius campaigned for and was successful in securing reelection as tribune. Again this cased great worry for the aristocracy as they feared that Gaius had too much power for one man. Soon after Gaius’ reelection in 122 BC, a riot broke out in the streets and Gaius was killed. Although both Gracchi brothers died before they could fully enact their plans, their work as tribunes made clear to other Roman leaders that controlling the people was a method for gaining power and glory. Leaders in the coming years would also use to will of the people to help them gain power and influence. The Gracchi also usher in the beginnings of unrest in Rome and for the next hundred years the episodes of civil violence and war will increase leading to the collapse of the Republic.