The Plebeian Revolution

The fall of the Roman Republic was caused by the expansion of Rome, and it’s class tension, the ruling of Julius Caesar, and all things that followed Julius Caesar’s

Patricians hold all the offices in ancient Rome and plebeians who outnumbered them were mostly farmers, craftsmen and soldiers. Therefore one can understand that practically while plebeians had no rights or knowledge, they were in an advantageous position as patricians couldn’t defend the city or do any kind of job without their help. Plebeians couldn’t tolerate the increasing debt and the abuse of patricians and demanded equality, by blackmailing the patricians

Chapter three labeled "Empire Urban life and imperial Majesty in Rome,China,and India. In Republican Rome a man named Romulus inaugurated traditional distinction between the patricians and the plebian. The patricians were the where the land owners who were also aristocrats that served as priests, magistrates, lawyers and/or judges. The plebian were the lower classed poor people who consisted of craftsmen, merchants and laborers. In 510 BCE the roman people expelled the last Etruscan kings and decided to rule themselves with without the need for a monarchy.

The fall of the Roman Republic occurred during the late second century BC and resulted in various leading figures emerging such as Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Tiberius Gracchus was largely responsible for creating and initiating a long term political crisis in Rome in the early first century through his land reformations and desire to aid the poor. However, his intentions led not only to political arguments but violence within Roman society. This will be demonstrated through the analysis of ancient sources, discussion of the historical context, Tiberius Gracchus’ motives, actions and contribution to the fall of the Roman Republic.

During the Conflict of Orders, the lower class Romans, or plebeians, forced the upper class Romans, known as patricians, to give them more rights and liberties (Hadas 1969).

The struggle of the plebeians to gain rights and an opportunity for advancement within Roman society and political structures is known as “the conflict of orders.” (McManus, Barbara F. "Conflict of Orders: Fifth to Fourth Centuries BCE. " Conflict of Orders. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 20ure of society denied that opportunity.

The consuls were the supreme power of authority with one year terms and could not be elected more than two times in a row and three times total. However, in situations of crisis, the Romans were led by a dictator who had complete power in a six month term. The Republic also had a senate, picked by the two consuls. The senators held their position for life and were responsible for taxes, funding laws, and foreign affairs. Next in line were the assembly, an elected body drawn from the citizens of Rome with two year terms and no term limits. The assembly occasionally made laws that had to be approved by the senate. The common people of Rome were called the Plebeians. The Plebeians served in the army, payed taxes, and had other citizen duties, but were not allowed to hold any important positions in office, unlike the Patricians who had all the rights. The Tribunes represented the voice of the Plebeians and were elected by the Plebeians. There were two Tribunes at a time with one year terms and had the power to veto any law. The Tribunes were “sacred” and left their doors open to the public to speak to them about any problems they might have

The Plebeans were less wealthy people of Rome. They were farmers and working class people who could not hold Government officers. Then there were the slaves who were conquered people from other countries or people in debt. The social structure also involved the Pate Family, which was when the male members of the family were in charge. In the United Sates today there is an Upper Class of rich and powerful people, The middle class of working class people, and the lower class, which are made up of poverty stricken

It is clear that the dynamics that characterized Rome’s society during the Republic were never easy. There was a constant push and pull of intentions and interests between Patricians and Plebeians. The Patricians always wanting to maintain economic and political supremacy while the Plebeians were in constant

First, the most prominent men in Rome were corrupted by greed, jealousy and ambition. Prominent persons brought the state to chaos, disorder, and tyranny in their quest for ultimate prestige and power. Through their moral failures and political dishonesty, this brought about republics violent and chaotic demise. Second, candidates to office had become accustomed to using dishonest methods to achieve their aims. Offices, positions and power were openly being bought and sold with bribery and electrol violence rife in the system. One of the biggest contributing factors to the collapse of the roman republic was corruption in the government. Rome increasingly put power into the hands of a select, wealthy few. Only the rich could become magistrates, and the votes of the wealthy citizens had more weight than the votes of the common people. The tax collectors were also corrupt, extorting money from the people and keeping it for themselves, depriving the government of badly needed funds. This led to bankruptcy due to the cost of defending the empire, the failing economies and high inflation. An unequal class system created enmity between rich and poor, and even between factions of the poor. Unscrupulous leaders turned the people against each other dueling political agendas. Social, economic and political instability created a Rome where citizens hungered for leadership. Third,

As individuals, plebeians had no political power, however, as a group they were strong indeed. Essentially, the working class was the life force of Rome itself, and they became resentful that they were being commanded to protect and supply the very aristocracy that kept them in crippling poverty, debt, and

Keep in mind, you should know that the government changed a lot in its time. The patricians pretty much had all the power early on in the Republic. The highest position in the Republic was held by the consuls, who were the "rulers" of the Roman Republic. A senate made up of patricians and the assemblies elected these people to become consuls. Plebeians pretty much had no say in the government at the time.

The patricians were only a small part of the Roman population, but had all the power. All the other citizens of Rome were Plebeians, and they were the farmers, laborers, and soldiers of Rome. There were many more Plebeians than Patricians and you bet the used that to their advantage to gain equality. The Patricians would be scared that the Plebeians would rebel so they ended up compromising. When there would be upcoming battles Patricians and Plebeians would be

They claimed that their ancestry gave them authority to make laws for Rome. The plebeians were citizens of Rome with the right to vote. However, they were barred by law from holding the most important government positions. In time, Rome’s leaders allowed the plebeians to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes. Tribunes protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials. (page 156)

Rome felt under constant threat, at the beginning of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was initially ruled by the rich and powerful. This ruling began “After the overthrow of the monarchy, Roman nobles, eager to maintain their position of power, established a republican form of government”(p.129). Later on, this power to the rich would prove chaos. The patricians who “were descendants of the original senators appointed during the period of the kings were great landowners, who constituted an aristocratic governing class”(p.129). The plebeians did not have this power of authority like the patricians did. The plebeians were “constituted the considerably larger group of non-patrician large landowners, less wealthy landholders, artisans, merchants, and small farmers”(p.129). These people could vote with the patricians but could not be elected into office, they could not marry someone out of the patricians and vice versa, it was forbidden for these groups to intertwine.