I read on how during the great war the Thalmor was defeating the Empire on every front. The Empire did not start winning battles until they started using guerrilla warfare and until they brought Nord reinforcements from Skyrim. So why would the people of the Empire trust them when the imperials said they can protect them from the Thalmor. Leave it to the Stormcloaks we can defend the people of Skyrim better than the Empire say they can.