Why was there a civil war after the Bolshevik Revolution?

Although the Bolshevik won easily against the provisional government and set themselves up in power, many groups opposed them and set up in opposition. It wasn't many months before a civil war was waged which lasted for three painful years. the groups were made up of monarchists, militarists, and, briefly, foreign nations.

Collectively, they were known as the White Russians. These were supported by Germany who, in response to Lenin's call for peace at any price, exacted excessively severe reparations upon Russia. Not surprisingly, this increased the despair and anger of the people.

The Bolsheviki were known as the Reds and communism to this day is associated with red with ordinary socialists all over Europe also using this colour, rather than the blue which represents conservative thinking and the more favoured sections of the population.