If I remember right, in the Expanded Universe, Palpatine was actually prepping the galaxy against an intergalactic invasion force that he saw with his Force powers. Knowing a fractured (democratic) galaxy wouldn't be enough to fend off the army that conquered/destroyed galaxies and steamrolled solar systems. So, he set in motion his plan to take over the galaxy and amass an army of weapons capable of fighting them off. Of course, since the (((Jedi))), who love kidnapping/buying children from their families, isolating them and teaching them to abandon all emotional connections save the (((Secret Society))) of Jedi and do nothing unless it serves the interests of the Jedi were in power and refused to allow anyone to actually rise to any prominence, they had to go. And mind you, I don't even like star wars. Sci-fi never interested me. I had this knowledge foisted upon me by just talking in nerd circles.