Conspiracy of a few within the senate with the Trade Federation birthed the "Empire" from the Senate. The Emperor dissolved the Senate in Episode IV. The "Rebellion" in Eps IV thru VI did not exist in Eps I and II; perhaps we'll witness the birth of the Rebellion in Ep III.
Anakin does not have a physical father. He was conceived through "the Force" and was destined to be the fulfillment of the prophecy to bring balance to the Force (which could either be for good or for evil), but that balance ultimately came through his son rather than thru him directly (those prophecies can be tricky things - as Joss Whedon has shown us in BTVS and Angel).
I suspect that Anakin will turn out to be a clone of Palpatine, implanted in the womb of whats-her-name on Tattooine. (It won't make complete sense but Lucas's plot twists never do.) Bump me in 2005 when we find out who's right.. ;-)