Galactic Republic facts for kids

The Galactic Republic was the main government in the Star Wars galaxy for a very long time. It was made up of many different planets that worked together. All these planets shared the same money and official language. They also followed certain laws and economic rules. For example, slavery was against the law on all Republic planets.

The Republic was a type of government where many planets joined together. Its main leader was called the Supreme Chancellor, who was chosen by voting. Each planet also picked its own Senators and Representatives to vote on and create laws. There was also a Supreme Court to make sure laws were fair.

The Republic was kept safe by the Jedi Order. The Jedi were like special knights who used a mysterious energy called the Force. Their job was to protect democracy and peace across the galaxy.

The Republic's Beginnings

The Galactic Republic existed for thousands of years. It was known for bringing peace and order to many parts of the galaxy. Planets joined the Republic because they believed in its ideals of freedom and justice.

How the Republic Worked

The Republic's government had different parts:

• Supreme Chancellor: This was the top leader, chosen by the Senate. They helped guide the Republic.
• Galactic Senate: This was a large group of Senators, with each planet sending representatives. They met in a huge building on the planet Coruscant to discuss and vote on new laws.
• Supreme Court: This group made sure that the laws were followed correctly and settled big disagreements.

The Republic's Protectors: The Jedi

The Jedi Order was very important to the Republic. They were peacekeepers who used the Force to help others. They did not have an army, but their wisdom and fighting skills helped keep the galaxy safe from threats. They worked closely with the Senate and the Chancellor to protect innocent people and uphold justice.

Challenges and Corruption

Over time, the Republic faced many problems. In the time of Star Wars Episode I, the Republic had become very complicated and slow. Some people in the Senate became more interested in their own power than in helping the planets.

The last Supreme Chancellor was Sheev Palpatine. Before him, Chancellor Valorum was seen as a weak leader. The Senate voted to remove Valorum, and soon after, they chose Palpatine to take his place.

The Rise of the Empire

Many planets were unhappy with the Republic's problems. Some decided to leave and form a new group called the Separatists. Their leader was Count Dooku. However, this whole plan was secretly set up by Palpatine himself. Dooku was Palpatine's secret student, known as an Sith Lord. Palpatine wanted to start a war to make the Republic weak and destroy the Jedi.

The war between the Republic and the Separatists was called the Clone Wars. Dooku created an army of clones for the Republic to fight this war. Palpatine used the war as an excuse to gain more power. The Senate gave him "emergency powers," which meant he could pass any law he wanted because the Republic was in danger.

Near the end of the war, Palpatine revealed his true identity as a Sith Lord to the young Jedi Anakin Skywalker. When Anakin told the Jedi Council, Jedi Master Mace Windu and other Jedi went to stop Palpatine. But Palpatine tricked Anakin into helping him defeat Mace Windu.

Palpatine then used this event as an excuse to give a terrible command called Order 66 to the clone army. This order told the clone troopers to kill any Jedi they saw. Palpatine also ordered Anakin, who had now become the evil Darth Vader, to attack the Jedi Temple and kill all the Jedi there, even the children. Most Jedi were killed very quickly after this order was given.

Palpatine then tricked the Senate into believing that the Jedi had tried to take over the Republic. He told everyone that to be safe, they needed a new, stronger government. So, he announced the creation of the Galactic Empire, with himself as the Emperor.

The Republic's Legacy

After the Empire was formed, the military grew much larger, and many freedoms were taken away. In Star Wars Episode IV, Emperor Palpatine even got rid of the Senate, which was the last part of the old Republic. He hoped that people would forget about the Republic entirely.

However, many people still believed in the Republic's ideals. They formed the Rebel Alliance and fought a long war against the Empire. After Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader were defeated, the Empire surrendered. This led to the creation of the New Republic.

Sadly, the New Republic was also destroyed many years later. This happened when the First Order, a new evil group formed from the remains of the Empire, used a superweapon called Starkiller Base to destroy the capital of the New Republic, Hosnian Prime.

Images for kids

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  John Martin's c. 1823-1827 engraving, Satan Presiding at the Infernal Council, was used as inspiration for the design of the Galactic Senate in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

See also

In Spanish: República Galáctica para niños