Russia
Jenna Pettus, Stacey Bantz, Genevieve Huttmann, Jorden Livsey, Abby Rojansky
Revolutions
Both the American and Russian Revolutions are similar in the following ways:
Oppression by a government
There was a division between revolutionaries and loyalists
Both Revolutions were successful in achieving a new form of government

Revolutions: Contrast
American Revolutionaries were revolting against an outside government
The British government was too controlling over America
Russian Revolutionaries fighting against own government, leading to a civil war
Russian government under the Tsars was too weak. This led to a revolt led by the middle class
Interventions
The Russian intervention in Hungary is similar to American intervention in Nicaragua~
Started with an overthrow of the US/Russian backed government
The new government reversed most of the precious policies, changing the country for the better
After the new government ruled, the US/Russia attacked and re-took over the country
Interventions: Contrast
America
Intervened in Nicaragua
New government lasted for over 10 years
US backed President was elected

Russia
Intervened in Hungary
Anti-communist government lasted for less than a month
Very violent overthrow of Anti-communist government
Economic Plans
Both FDR and Stalin introduced plans to help their countries in a time of economic despair.
Both plans were established to help give jobs to the unemployed and to re-bulid the economy
Both created plans to build up strength for the war and help with transportation
Economic Plans
The United States had to pull itself out of the economic depression.
FDR tried everything possible to get the U.S. out of the depression.
FDR resorted to deficit spending
The Russians had to basically make a new economy for itself.
Stalin had a system of plans to create the economy and had many followers.
Stalin didn’t have to resort to this spending.

Russia
Russian Depression v. Great Depression


Abby Rojansky

Russian Depression
Overall: Born out of Cold War, saw ups and downs in trajectory
Gorbachev:↓ deregulation fails
Yeltsin: ↓
macroeconomic stabilization, joining world economy; overly ambitious
New monetary and fiscal policies→ inflation and depreciation of ruble
Fedorov: ↑ ↓
Tighter monetary and fiscal policy to control inflation
Increased interest rates
Moderated credit expansion
Initially, plan succeeds
Macroeconomic Stabilization undermined by Central Bank (they issued credits at subsidized rates) → inflation soars ↓
Great Depression
Overall: Born out of WWI; saw similar trends
strong wartime economy: ↑ Federal Reserve Act, women join workforce, mobilization → wartime inflation
Wall Street Closes
weak postwar economy: ↓ troops return → high unemployment, postwar politics → isolationism, recession
Develops unstably: ↑ ↓ consumer economy, women leave workforce, bull and bear economy / witness small periods of growth and recession
20s spending glut
inflation
Dow Jones peaks in September; immediately collapses
New York Stock Exchange collapses soon after
Investors pull out

Compare / Contrast
Similarities
Both emerge from wartime
Both saw bull and bear economies in the period
Both saw small short-lived depressions prior to the larger event
The real depression was caused by factors other than the economy itself
Differences:
Wartime economy in US had been good
Wartime economy is Russia had been almost as bad
Attempts to globalize failed
Depression of US economy was caused by investors
Depression of Russian economy was caused by interference by the Central Bank
Russian Government was active prior to the crash
US Government took involved stance after the damage was done
Of course, the Russian Depression had more trouble healing
US Indian Removal vs. Deportation of “Anti-Soviet” population
Similarities
-Ethnic Cleansing
-Superiority over minority
-sent to undesirable, under populated territories
Differences
-gradual/ short period of time
-more than 100 years apart
-In Russia time of turmoil
-Different motives