Division of Historical & Cultural Studies

Shortly after Palpatine annointed himself Emperor, several hundred Senators and Jedi were summarily executed for treason. Some years later, a small group of former Senators formed an "Alliance to Restore the Republic" to oppose the new empire. Of course, Palpatine immediately branded them as rebels.

Using guerilla tactics, these "rebels" managed to form a reasonable opposition to the Empire. After the Imperial destruction of Alderaan, a planet noted for peace, the Alliance ranks tripled. It was during this time that such heroes as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa would emerge.

Over the next decade, Alliance and Imperial forces waged war over the galaxy, resulting in the death of Emperor Palpatine and the ravaging of Coruscant. Eventually, however, Alliance forces secured a foothold on Coruscant and cemented themselves as the new government - the "New Republic".