Lothal's planetary government

Prior to and during the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Outer Rim world of Lothal had a planetary government. It included a senate that gathered in the Lothal City Capitol Building.

Imperial occupation
During the Clone Wars, Lothal's planetary government petitioned the Galactic Senate of the Galactic Republic for aid after droughts and plagues destroyed many livestock and crops. The Senate, viewing that the war effort was more important, rejected Lothal's pleas.

After the Empire supplanted the Republic, Lothal petitioned once more for aid. The Empire was interested in Lothal as it seemed to be a great location for an outpost, and so a survey team was dispatched and, at first, discovered nothing of value except vast crops. As the survey team further investigated however, they discovered extensive starship-building materials beneath the surface. Within a week of the discovery, mining facilities and droid factories were dispatched, along with an Imperial garrison, and the planetary government sought to maintain sovereignty.

The Empire drastically changed the appearance of Capital City, evicting large amounts of people and demolishing existing buildings to pave the way for Imperial-style structures, and overnight, large sectors of the city were depopulated. These actions were met with mass protests, which ensued in large-scale arrests and crackdowns, allowing the Empire to cement their leadership and eventually establishing a governorship. What began as a simple loan of credits and supplies quickly became a fully fledged occupation. The Empire soon began plundering the minerals from Lothal with no regard to the people, and the environment became heavily polluted as the skies became clouded in smog, and the rivers were filled with factory waste. As the Empire's mission on Lothal became more and more apparent, citizens grew increasingly upset and uneasy about the drastic negative changes to Lothal, which eventually led to individuals and groups to resist the Empire, only for them to be defeated. One of the earliest revolutionaries were Ephraim and Mira Bridger, who transmitted messages of rebellion and hope. Despite being secretly supported by several high-level government officials, the Bridgers eventually were arrested and imprisoned.

Sparks of rebellion
By 5 BBY, after the occupation, Lothal's standard of living had significantly dropped, and once Imperial supporters and loyalists slowly began to have a change of heart. With the environment poisoned and the people having lived in poverty while Imperial officials grew wealthier, combined with cruel behavior and the deceitful offering of assistance by the Empire, outbreaks of insurgent violence and sparks of rebellion ensued, and tensions were at tipping points. Insurgent attacks began on Imperial assets, including large-scale thefts and an outbreak of insurgent violence took root despite curfews and crackdowns in Capital City. Slums had continued to grow due to the refugee crisis that had been created by farmers losing their farms, and citizens being evicted from their homes. One such slum was Tarkintown, which was destroyed by Darth Vader in retaliation for accepting rebel aid.