One of the unique features of public service in the Roman Republic was the delicate balance between refining Rome and gratifying the aristocracy that overpopulated every legislative body. Those courageous enough to defy typical conventions and the hierarchy of Roman politics encountered delightfully diverse methods of death. The most notable examples of Roman politicians who died in infamy were Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, tribunes who encouraged populist land reforms and repeatedly flouted the limits of their power. While their reforms were necessary, the Gracchi brothers’ rebellion further engendered an authoritarian relationship between the controlling Senate and Consuls, thereby portraying them as selfish enemies of the state, and weakened
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From an intention perspective, the Gracchi collective were flawless. They properly recognized the suffering of their constituencies and actively sought to remedy these injustices. Past this impetus, however, the path to implementation is only riddled with errors. For example, the demographic that begged Gaius for discounted grain were mostly displaced hands liberated because of Tiberius's land reforms.8 Also, their intention to increase military recruitments was an utter miss because their rhetoric created animosity against the government. Lastly, the Gracchi brothers toppled stable aristocrats and their empires without properly preparing the lower class to manage money, have income security, and ensure equality for future generations. Logically, the tribunes should have realized that their open rebellion against government colleagues would only decrease nationalism and desire to serve their country. Finally, the Gracchis were the greatest source of polarization in the late Roman Republic. They deliberately called attention to issues that they were incompetent in addressing, and encouraged disloyalty and distrust against the succeeding governments. In summary, the Gracchis destroyed the Roman Republic by polarizing the Roman populace, creating unnecessary schisms among the divided Senate, and further destabilizing the
From an intention perspective, the Gracchi collective were flawless. They properly recognized the suffering of their constituencies and actively sought to remedy these injustices. Past this impetus, however, the path to implementation is only riddled with errors. For example, the demographic that begged Gaius for discounted grain were mostly displaced hands liberated because of Tiberius's land reforms.8 Also, their intention to increase military recruitments was an utter miss because their rhetoric created animosity against the government. Lastly, the Gracchi brothers toppled stable aristocrats and their empires without properly preparing the lower class to manage money, have income security, and ensure equality for future generations. Logically, the tribunes should have realized that their open rebellion against government colleagues would only decrease nationalism and desire to serve their country. Finally, the Gracchis were the greatest source of polarization in the late Roman Republic. They deliberately called attention to issues that they were incompetent in addressing, and encouraged disloyalty and distrust against the succeeding governments. In summary, the Gracchis destroyed the Roman Republic by polarizing the Roman populace, creating unnecessary schisms among the divided Senate, and further destabilizing the