What was one of the main reasons for the persecution of Kulaks during the Bolshevik regime?

The persecution of Kulaks during the Bolshevik regime was primarily driven by their status as wealthy peasants. The Bolsheviks targeted Kulaks because they were seen as a class that hoarded grain and other resources, which was detrimental to the party's goals of redistribution and collectivization. This perception portrayed them as obstacles to the Bolsheviks’ aim of establishing a classless society. The Bolsheviks believed that the Kulaks were exploiting the poorer peasants by not sharing their wealth, which fueled the agricultural crises that the regime faced.

Additionally, in the context of a civil war and subsequent famines, the Bolsheviks sought to consolidate control over agricultural production. By labeling Kulaks as enemies of the state and accusing them of grain hoarding, the regime aimed to justify their persecution and the confiscation of their land and assets in the name of the revolution. This process was part of the larger strategy of collectivization, which was intended to eliminate class distinctions in agriculture and promote state control over food production.