>>78598470>When the Empire was defeated and the New Republic was born, instead of hunting down and dealing with any and all remnants as well as Imperial loyalists, the New Republic just kinda did nothing for 30 years and let them build star destroyers and a bigger badder death star? Even though the rebel fleet destroyed the Death Star and killed the Emporer, the Imperial governers and Navy still held control of most of the Galaxy.
What followed was a long grinding war that ended with a cease fire agreement. The Empire and New Republic basically agreed to accept each others' existence, with agreements on military forces.
The Republic, not wanting to be another Empire, pretty much dismantled their united fleet and went back to each system having its own military force.
The Empire, meanwhile, remained an oppressive military regime and secretly built up arms in preparation for another war, ala Germany between WWI and WWII.
The Republic as a whole- still being peace and freedom loving fags- did not want to directly face this newly resurgent Imperial force and plunge the Galaxy into yet another civil war. Some people in the Republic do think someone needs to stand up to this new Empire, and they are known as the Resistance. They get indirect Republic support, but there is no massive Republic mobilization for war.
In the events of the Force Awakens, we are seeing the new Empire launch its first attack on the New Republic and declare war, proving that trying to appease them and avoid war was folly. Since it happened so unexpectedly- and the Republic still full of freedom/peace loving fags-, the only people in any position to immediately respond is the Resistance.