Explain the evolution of Rome from republic to empire.

As the Republic expanded throughout Italy Rome needed to
manage territories and peoples that previously fought with Rome. The Republic began by
offering a tired legal status for these non roman people. Roman citizenship extended to
all living in Roman colonies which included the vote, expected military service,
allowance to marry other Romans. Latinum Nomen- latin rights was citizenship without the
vote. This status was obtained by moving to Rome. The Socii Italici-Italian allies were
those who were previously hostile to Roman influence but began to show interest in
becoming Roman.

While legal status didi keep subjects loyal
to Rome by 265 BCE Rome ruled all of Italy and continued to expand outside the Italian
mainland. This expansion would ultimately lead to the destruction of the Republic. The
imperial system required that a Roman governor be put in place for the purpose of
maintaing the political status-quo and coolect taxes and tribute. This led to corruption
from within and thus civil unrest within the city walls. Rome was severely overcrowed,
unemployment was high due to the amount to slaves within the
city.

Between 49-31 BCE the Gracchi brothers tried to
maintain stabilityby implementing a series of reforms but a series of slave rebellions
caused great havoc. This combined with the rise of the generals of the Roman army caused
the republic to fracture. Frankly, the Roman people and the Roman soldier began to have
more alligence to the generals of the army than the Senate. Generals Marius, Sulla,
Cinna, Pompey, Lepidus, and Caesar soon were elected as Consul, thus crossing the
politics of Rome with the military. Now elections went to the favor of the generals and
the generals began to consolidate power by the time of Octavian/Augustus the government
was a mere puppet, to the power of the Roman army.