Roman Empire

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Gaius was much like his older brother; when he was elected tribune he had many issues to address, such as political reforms and social equality issues. He not only followed his brothers’ revolutionary footsteps but surpassed them. He wanted colonies in which poor farmers could own land. The city of Carthage eventually became one of the colonies which Gaius proposed when he was in power for the first time; he had his eyes on revenge for his assassinated brother, Tiberius. He suspected Consul Populius of involvement in the murder of his brother, so he developed a law that restricts magistrates of the law who have been deposed by the will of the people by not allowing them to serve in the future at all. He passed a law that cut down the cost of grain by half, to make it more affordable for the less fortunate. This law also brought back his brother’s old agrarian law which had been revoked when Tiberius was assassinated He also wanted to make colonies for the poor, so they could finally possess land It has been said that Gaius Gracchus, during his prime involvement in government, succeeded his older brother when it came to public influence and community service. Not only did he help keep his older brother’s reforms in motion, he also brought about his own legislation changes. He was a true champion of the people; in addition to the government work he was dedicated to, he did not forget the main purpose of what his brother and he were essentially fighting for: equality. Gaius passed several new motions that prevented the aristocratic population from seeping the few funds and resources that the plebian population worked so diligently for. He also redirected the funding of the various luxuries that was reserved solely for the aristocracy for the benefit of the plebian population. Not only was he an unforgettable member of Roman government, known for his support of plebeians with his political reforms, but he was also a wonderful orator, complemented by the great Cicero. However, as one may imagine, all of these reforms benefiting the plebeians did not fare well with the majority of the aristocracy, especially with the Senate, which felt that it was being challenged with Gaius reforms. While he was away at a colony, the Senate deliberated and determined to depose Gaius. Gaius refused and tried to fight back, which resulted in a battle leading to a death of a senator The Senate used this death to their full advantage and declared martial law on Rome. Gaius was assassinated by one of his own slaves instead of the senator’s soldiers.

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