Assess the Impact of the Gracchi on the Roman Republic

Few figures in Roman history had the unforeseen historical impact of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. Their careers prefigured so much of what led to the fall of the Roman Republic, which Scullard conveys when he says that they "...precipitated the revolution that overthrew the Republic" . The Gracchi brought about huge political, economic and social changes, all of which impacted both immediately and created repercussions for the future. Their reforms had a powerful impact on the tribunate and the people's assemblies, divided the ruling class into two political groups, resulted in introducing the senatus consultum ultimum into roman politic, sanctioned the use political murder and violence and initiated civil war and riot. Paterculus says, when speaking of Gaius (but also for Tiberius):"He left nothing undisturbed, nothing untouched, nothing unmolested, nothing, in short, as it had been" . In this way it is evident that the Gracchi had a powerful impact on the roman republic.…