Summary

• The Rebel Alliance was formed after years of small acts of rebellion, and though it only lasted for a short time, it was hugely important in restoring freedom to the galaxy.
• Mon Mothma, with her leadership and the centralized structure of the Rebel Alliance, played a crucial role in its success by focusing on important targets and strategic actions.
• The Rebel Alliance had a diverse and capable leadership, including figures like iral Ackbar, Bail Organa, Leia Organa, and Han Solo, but keeping the Alliance together was challenging due to differing opinions and approaches.

The Empire's brutal reign over the Order 66, the Galactic Republic was reorganized by Palpatine into the First Galactic Empire. That era would come to be known as the Dark Times due to the oppression and cruelty the Empire spread throughout the galaxy. But, as one famous rebel remarked, "Oppression breeds rebellion."

The Rebel Alliance was the culmination of years worth of small acts of rebellion spread throughout the galaxy. Though it was over a decade in the making, the Alliance only lasted for about six years. Luckily, that was because the Rebels accomplished their mission and restored freedom to the galaxy. Though it had a short lifespan, the Alliance was a hugely important organization in the galaxy's history. It had an effect on every part of Star Wars movies.

People Fought Against The Empire As Soon As It Was Formed

19 - 2 BBY

Palpatine reorganized the Republic into the First Galactic Empire in 19 BBY, and from the very beginning, people across the galaxy were ready to fight against it. Saw Gerrera had been a prominent guerrilla fighter during the Clone Wars, and he was immediately singled out as a target by the Empire. Clone Force 99, a group of mutated clones with special abilities, disobeyed the Empire's orders to eradicate his group and ed the fight against the Empire separately. Bail Organa and Ahsoka Tano also began creating the Fulcrum program in 18 BBY, which would become the Rebels' intelligence division.

While some people fought immediately, most of the galaxy was still reeling from the sudden regime change. At this time, the Empire was also producing propaganda to convince people that the Jedi had betrayed the Republic and that Palpatine was working in their best interest. Palpatine's plan was incredibly well-thought-out, and he managed to control many sources of rebellion. One of his tools was the Inquisitorius, a group of mostly former Jedi who were turned to the dark side of the Force and used to hunt down survivors of Order 66.

Despite Palpatine's efforts, though, rebellion continued to grow throughout the galaxy. Some surviving Jedi, such as Cal Kestis and Kanan Jarrus, ed rebel cells to fight back. By 5 BBY, other rebel cells like Luthen Rael and Mon Mothma's featured in Andor, the crew of the Ghost in Star Wars: Rebels, and the Hidden Path featured in Obi-Wan Kenobi existed throughout the galaxy. While they all worked towards a common goal, they were largely ineffective in their fight against the Empire as they did not have centralized leadership.

The Rebel Alliance Was Created By Mon Mothma

2 BBY

Officially known as The Alliance to Restore the Republic, the Rebel Alliance formally began in 2 BBY. Senator Mon Mothma had been secretly working against the Empire for years, but she finally spoke out against the regime publicly that year. She was branded a traitor and forced into exile, where she broadcast the Declaration of the Rebel Alliance across the galaxy. Various rebel cells rallied around her and formed into the Rebel Alliance.

That structure proved to be instrumental in the Rebels' success. Mothma's leadership allowed them to begin dealing decisive blows to the Empire and proved they were a real threat to the new regime. Though most of the Imperial leadership failed to see how powerful they were, the Rebels gained immense strength by uniting together. Their centralized leadership allowed it to focus on important targets and act in more strategic ways.

Who Led The Rebel Alliance

2 BBY - 4 ABY

The Alliance's leadership was key to its success, and it boasted some of the most capable people in the entire galaxy. From Alderaanian royalty and senators to smugglers and criminals, anybody could be chosen to lead the Alliance, as long as they were the best at what they did. The diversity in its leadership, as well as in the Alliance as a whole, increased its strength immensely. Their variety of backgrounds and roles were suited to everything the Alliance needed.

Some of the Alliance's leaders were very publicly d with the group, like Mon Mothma and Gial Ackbar. Others, though, operated in secret. Both Bail and Leia Organa undermined the Empire from their positions in the Senate, until Leia was captured by Darth Vader and her connection to the Rebellion was discovered. Whether it needed strong leaders to boost morale and provide direction or more hands-on leaders to affect change directly, the Rebel Alliance was not wanting for strong people at the top.

Though Alliance leadership was critical for its success, many disagreed with their decision making. Saw Gerrera left the Alliance at some point because he felt they should be more extreme in their fight and that the leadership was too timid. Many pilots in the Rebellion similarly wanted to take the fight to the Empire, while the leadership was much more cautious about engaging its enemy. Keeping the Alliance together was almost as difficult as forming it in the first place.

The Rebel Alliance Had A Few Major Victories Early On

1 BBY - 0

After the Rebel Alliance formally began, it began operations to undermine the Empire. One of the first major operations it ran was a mission to secure the plans to the Death Star, as depicted in Rogue One. Though they suffered numerous casualties, the operation was successful. As with any war, though, there were just as many defeats as victories, and Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star.

After the planet's destruction, the Imperials pursued the Millennium Falcon to a Rebel base on Yavin 4, and the Rebel Alliance moved to attack the Death Star and deprive the Empire of its super weapon at the Battle of Yavin. With the plans secured by the crew of Rogue One and the help of the Force, Luke Skywalker managed to destroy the base. The destruction of the Death Star was a huge victory for the Alliance, and for the entire galaxy, so much so that the Star Wars calendar was divided into halves: before and after the Battle of Yavin.

The Rebel Alliance Also Suffered Great Defeats

0-3 ABY

The Rebel Alliance's victory streak was short-lived, though. After they demonstrated the threat they posed to the Empire, Palpatine formed several elite squads to combat them, such as the Inferno Squad. As the pressure built, Leia tried to recruit the people of Mon Calamari into the Alliance Fleet. Vader launched a surprise attack that killed several Alliance leaders and forced the Rebels to flee.

The Alliance was on its back foot before establishing a new base on Hoth, and the situation only deteriorated from there. The Empire found the new base and launched a full invasion that would decimate the Alliance and become its greatest defeat. Vader kept the pressure on the Rebels afterward, capturing Leia, Han, and Chewbacca in an effort to draw Luke to their rescue. It was the darkest time in the Age of Rebellion, but the fight would soon be over.

The Battle Of Endor Was The Beginning Of The End For Both The Empire And The Alliance

4 ABY

Once the Empire had all but defeated the Rebel Alliance, it set its sights onto constructing a new Death Star, this time in the Endor system. Without the flaw built into it by Galen Erso, the new Death Star would have destroyed the Rebels and ended the Galactic Civil War, so they needed to destroy it while it was still vulnerable and under construction. In preparation for the attack, the Rebels, who had been scattered after the Battle of Hoth, reconvened in Sullust while Leia launched decoy missions to cover their arrival.

The Rebels launched a two-front attack in both space, led by iral Ackbar and General Calrissian, and on one of the forest moons of Endor, led by Leia and General Solo. The Alliance was successful in its mission, as the Rebels were able to destroy the shield generator, and the Death Star's reactor core. The Battle of Endor was a devastating defeat for the Empire, as its super weapon was defeated and Palpatine was presumed dead after Luke and Vader fought him at the same time. It was the beginning of the end of the Galactic Civil War, but there was more work to be done.

The Rebel Alliance Was Reorganized Into The New Republic

4 ABY

After the Battle of Endor, planets across the galaxy celebrated the fall of the Empire. While the Death Star II was destroyed and Palpatine was defeated, the Galactic Civil War wasn't over yet. The Rebels had to begin hunting down Imperial remnants who were continuing the fight. Those remnants were following Palpatine's final orders, a plan to punish planets that were loyal to the Empire for failing to prevent his death called Operation: Cinder.

The Galactic Civil War would last another year until its final conflict, the Battle of Jakku in 5 ABY. However, the Rebel Alliance wouldn't be around to finish the fight. Shortly after Endor, the Alliance reorganized into the New Republic as it transitioned into focusing on governmental affairs and began demilitarizing. The Rebel Alliance's work was done, but the New Republic had more than a few problems to attend to. Star Wars has begun to explore that time period further, so the Rebel Alliance's legacy will live on.