Causes of the Russian Civil War

Economic Causes (Short Term)

• The Bolsheviks quickly instated new systems to combat the economic instability that removed economic power from Kulaks

• requisitioning grain

• WWI caused devastation in Russia

Economic Causes (Long Term)

• Hardline Tsarists wanted to return to the more controlled and unequal economic system of Alexander III

• long term economic issues caused a lot of the tension in Russia

Ideological Causes (Short Term)

The seizure of power by the Bolsheviks in the 1917 October Revolution prompted anger from many anti-Bolshevik groups, including tsarists, capitalists, and pro-Provisional Government groups

Ideological Causes (Long Term)

Long-term tensions between Bolsheviks, other socialist factions, and conservatives

Political Causes (Short Term)

• The overhaul of the Provisional Government signalled a chance for tsarists to reinstate the monarchy

• supporters of the Provisional Government were against the Bolshevik revolution

• The Union for the Defence of the Motherland and Liberty - founded in January 1918 - organised three armed revolts in July 1918 and the murder of Count Mirbach, the German ambassador

• closing down the Constituent Assembly in Jan 1918 made them unpopular with many groups

Political Causes (Long Term)

• The Bolsheviks alienated other socialist groups such as the SRs and Mensheviks

• the collapse of both the Tsarist government and the PG left a political vacuum

Territorial Causes (Short Term)

• Within Great Russia soviets took over large areas and often pursued their own policies. The Central Siberian Region Soviet in Irkutsk even rejected the peace with Germany. Volga Tatars and Bashkirs later set up their own republics. There were thirty-three sovereign governments in Russia in June 1918.

• Many patriotic Russians wanted to stop the disintegration of their country and keep 'Russia, one and indivisible' (General Denikin). Some fought the Civil War to achieve self-government; others fought to prevent it.

Territorial Causes (Long Term)

• Following the collapse of the Tsarist Empire many national minority groups (e.g. Muslims in Turkestan) struck out for independence

• linked to increased national sentiment over the last years of the empire

Other Causes (Short Term)

• International former allies opposed the Bolsheviks and called for action against them(London’s Morning Post called for direct military action)

• Bolsheviks cancelled international debts, broke treaties, and withdrew from the war

• the seizure of government by the Bolsheviks

Other Causes (Long Term)

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