Are there Illegitimate Roman Values Prevalent in American History?

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This is a paper I wrote recently for my 10th grade Western World History class about the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the Roman empire (specifically a Roman general named Sulla's actions as he acquired power), and whether they have been inherited by modern American society).

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Like any other nation, America has had its moments of triumph and glory, as well as its moments of failure and humiliation. In the book, “Rubicon,” Tom Holland, the author, demonstrates quite clearly that America has inherited some of her values from Rome. In the book, a Roman general named Sulla oversteps his power to go against Rome as a whole for his own personal gain. The south would later use similar illegitimate tactics in their secession, and eventual instigation of the civil war. Therefore, Holland has proved his thesis.

Sulla used the value of deception in his first march on Rome. Sulla told Marius’ envoys that he would not attack the city, and would wait for them to assemble the senate to vote. He then ordered his legions to march on the city almost immediately after the envoys had gone. (70) In this example, Sulla tricked Marius and his men into believing that they were safe. Because of his deception, they let their guard down. Although this could be argued as legitimate due to the fact that “all warfare is based on deception” (as put by Sun Tzu in chapter 1 section 18 of The Art of War), it is questionable that Sulla was really at war with Rome, considering he was using her own legions against her, and hadn’t specifically declared war. Therefore, Sulla’s use of deception was illegitimate.

A value used by Sulla in his second march on Rome was greed. He provoked the Samnites into attacking Rome, so he could come to the rescue, and build up a reputation as the savior of Rome. This is an example of greed because he is putting his own reputation above the well-being of Rome. He purposefully led enemy forces into attacking Rome so he could stop them and build a better Reputation. This was illegitimate because he was putting his own well-being ahead of the people he was supposed to defend.

Both of these values were demonstrated by the American South’s secession, and eventual instigation of the civil war. The south could tell that the North was getting ready to abolish slavery, and decided that they needed slavery to earn profit, so they seceded. This demonstrates greed because the south was only interested in its own economic well-being, and not the well-being of the people who lived within its borders. When the north kept troops at fort Sumter, South Carolina, the southern troops fired the first shots of the civil war. The north did not expect the south to fire on them, and therefore this demonstrates that the south deceived the north. The South’s secession was legitimate due to the fact that the constitution did not specifically state that states could not secede, but their reasoning behind secession –maintaining slavery- was not legitimate. The South’s instigation of the war was not legitimate because the north owned the land that their troops were on. The South cannot take away the north’s personal property, not even through secession. The north was not trespassing because it was their personal land. Therefore, the south had no right to fire. The south’s secession is quite similar to Sulla’s second march on Rome. Sulla marched to gain reputation, and the South seceded to gain/retain economic profit. The South’s instigation of the civil war is quite similar to Sulla’s first march on Rome. Both parties believed that the body they were fighting was corrupt and tyrannical. Both parties also used deception as a method of gaining an advantage. The south clearly demonstrated both greed and deception through their actions.

As you can see, Tom Holland clearly proved his thesis that America has inherited many of the values of her predecessor. Deception and greed, being two of those values. Sulla demonstrated these values in his marches on Rome, and the south demonstrated these values in the reasoning behind their secession, and their provocation of the civil war.

Thanks for reading this! Make sure to check back in January for my new thirty day series. See you next time!

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