The answer i belive it was is appalachian mountains
As both were minorities their presence became competitive with each other.
Catherine the Great rose to power through a coup following the Seven Year War. Her husband, Peter III was assassinated and so she then took over the throne. Although Catherine the Great was from Prussia (modern-day Germany), she ruled over Russia and under her reign Russia grew stronger and larger than ever before. It became revitalized and was soon recognized as one of Europe's great superpowers. It is considered Russia's golden age.
Both countries had massive wealth inequality.
