Causes of the Civil War

Question 1

How did the revolution lead to civil war?

Answer 1

The bolsheviks dissolved the constituent assembly after 1 day. They imprisoned democracy and nationalised banks (Dec 1917 due to Lenin’s decree).
People believed that communism was seeing socialism as too demographic.
Used the Cheka to suppress opposing political groups.

Question 2

How was the Civil War a natural seizure of power?

Answer 2

inevitable as natural seizure of power as the repression of political rights repressed any opposition.

Question 3

Economic causes

Answer 3

1918 food situation was desperate due to the loss of Ukraine - Grain production fell by 40% between 1917 and 1919.

Forced Many workers out of industrial cities.- Between 1918 and 1920, Petrograd’s population fell by 57%, and Moscow’s by 44%.

peasants were reluctant to sell produce.

No products to buy in shops- Industrial production collapsed, with factory output in 1920 at only 20% of 1913 levels.

Question 4

Territorial causes

Answer 4

Treaty of Brest-Litvosk saw the loss of 26% of railway, 27% of farmland, and 74% of iron and coal reserves.
Russia lost 34% of its population of the population was lost.