1. What were the problems that came with the expansion of the Roman Republic?

2. Learning Objectives Evaluate the impact of the Republic’s expansion on Roman society and political stability.

3. What were the problems with Rome’s expansion?  Increasing poverty of soldiers  Increasing wealth of generals  Violence enters Roman politics  Soldiers develop loyalty to generals over Rome

4. Optimates vs Populares The Gracchus Brothers  Tiberius Gracchus was elected tribune in 133 B.C.E. and immediately ignored the Senate's advice and convinced the Plebeian assembly to pass laws to redistribute land to landless Romans.  The next year, Tiberius made the unprecedented announcement that he would stand for election as tribune for a second year, but his cousin led a group of Senators he clubbed Tiberius and many of his followers to death.  Gaius Gracchus was elected tribune in 123 B.C.E and, contrary to tradition, again the following year. He also pushed for reform measures that outraged the elite: farming reforms, subsidized prices for grain, public works projects to employ the poor, and colonies abroad with farms for the landless.  Perhaps Gaius' most important reform were measures that granted many Italians Roman citizenship, and the creation of courts with equite jurors to try Senators for wrongdoing which meant that the equites would be social equals to the patrician Senators. The Senate move to block this legislation, and Gaius assembled an armed group that threaten them. The Senate then advised consuls to take all measures necessary to protect the Republic, meaning themselves, and the consuls set off to kill Gaius. He cheated them of that prize, committing suicide.

5. The rise of the generals Marius Sulla