I have a research paper due and am looking for credible sources. I do not mind doing the reading myself, just having trouble finding informative information.
I found one paper about the benefits once they allowed even the provincial territories to become Roman citizens, but am having difficulty locating something that speaks more to the average citizen as well as the elite.
Any help would be extremely appreciated!
A.N. Sherwin-White, The Roman Citizenship (Oxford 1980) - is still one of the standard works on the topic, so that might be a good place to start, if a bit dated in places.
S. Kendall, The struggle for Roman citizenship (Piscataway 2013) - while not offering much new of its own, it's still a good summary of the development of the question of citizenship during the late stages of the Roman Republic. Long, but with a detailed look at the sources (sadly much neglecting the epigraphic ones).
R.S. Howarth, The Origins of Roman Citizenship (Lewiston 2006) - explores the other end of the Republic and the genesis of Roman citizenship. A bit careless in his use of the concept of identity (which he doesn't really explain).
The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World contains a chapter on citizenship and legal status which might be good to get a quick and dirty overview if you need it right now (pp. 144-161, esp. 151-153).
Those might be some places to start. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.
The bible actually talks about it as the apostle Paul uses it to get out of a scourging. Acts 22
But as he was being tied with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?"
Now when the centurion heard this, he went and reported it to the chief captain, saying, "Do you realize what you are about to do? For this man is a Roman." 27. And when the chief captain came up, he said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" And he said, "Yes." 28. And the chief captain answered, "With a great sum of money I bought this citizenship." And Paul said, "But indeed, I was born free" (Acts 22)
Roman citizenship was a great privilege in ancient Rome. The citizen had a better status and starting position in life compared to other free population in the Empire (called the peregrins).
Most important rights of the Roman citizenship were:
This meant that if you were accused of crime, a local chieftain or nobility could not convict you in a mock trial with made up witnesses or make up an accusation just to harm you. You were taken to Roman court (conventus) where evidence had to presented and you were defended by a lawyer.
People who did not have this right had very little ways to earn for living, mainly from agriculture.
A citizen could be elected and advance in his political career (cursus honorum). Those posts included being a small administrator (questor), public works and order official (edile), a judge and high state administrator (praetor) or a consul, the most important person in the state after the emperor, who commanded legions and served as an adviser.
That means that wife and children also became Roman citizens and enjoyed all the legal benefits of being citizens. This right also gave the man of the house, pater familias, the power over the lives of other members of the family (it is not bad as it sounds).
Roman citizen was never to be whipped or tortured during the investigation, testimony or after conviction. He also could not be sentenced to death, unless his crime was treason.
Immunity on some taxes.
Right to own slaves. Also right to free slaves.
Right to serve in legions. Legions were elite units with high pay and better veteran benefits. He could also advance his military career in legions.
A non-citizen could obtain these benefits in very few ways (before 212 AD). He could serve in auxiliary forces for 25 years, get the citizenship by birth if his father served in the forces or be a freed slave by manumission (getting freed by his master).