This was felt by all classes, but especially by the small landed plebeians whose fields had been devastated.

They were obliged to mortgage their property to pay the taxes, and, when unable to meet the demands of their creditors, according to the laws they could be imprisoned, or even put to death.
The rich land-owners, on the other hand, increased their wealth by "farming" the public revenues; i.e.the state would let out to them, for a stipulated sum, the privilege of collecting all import and other duties.

These, in turn (called in later times Publicans), would extort all they could from the tax-payers, thus enriching themselves unlawfully.

So the hard times, the oppression of the tax-gatherer, and the unjust law about debt, made the condition of the poor unendurable.
The military service, too, bore hard upon them.

Many were obliged to serve more than their due time, and in a rank lower than was just; for the Consuls, who had charge of the levy of troops, were patricians, and naturally favored their own party.