Why was there a Russian Civil War?

Why was there a Russian Civil War?

1. Allies- France and UK

   • Unhappy, wanted second front to ease pressure on them- this argument ends November 1918
     • Fear of communism spreading, troops were sent in 1919
       • Bolsheviks cancelled vast debts to Allies
         • Allies fought civil war to get money back

2. Requisitioning

   • Soldiers and Cheka sent into country to forcibly collect grain
     • From hoarding Kulaks
       • Some peasants like Communists, some hate them, some hate them but love Lenin
       • Depends who is classed as kulak
       • "These blood-suckers have grown rich on the hunger of the people" Lenin
   • Petrograd, 50g of bread a day
     • Ukraine, breadbasket, independence.

3. Political opposition

   • SR's, Mensheviks and Kadets
   • Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly means there was no other platform for opinion/criticism

4. Divisions

   • Left communists believed that war should have been fought to push Germany out of Russia, thus consolidating the revolution

5. Nationalists unhappy at collapse of empire

   • November 1917 Decree on Nationalities
     • Territories free to leave
       • Ukraine January 1918
       • Finland December 1917