A story about Alaska. Whose is she? Russian territory or the USA? Who sold Alaska to America
Back in 1866, when the reins of government belonged to Emperor Alexander II, a representative of Russia was sent to Washington. The purpose of his trip was to negotiate in strict confidence with the US government on the sale of Alaska. A year later, in March 1867, a purchase and sale agreement was signed, in which America was the initiator of the deal for the whole world.
The agreement stated that the entire territory of the peninsula, as well as the coastline 10 miles in the south, became the property of the United States. Surprisingly, the text of this agreement was drafted in two languages - English and French. There is no Russian version of this document.
The initial initiative to sell Alaska came from N. Muravyov-Amursky during his tenure as governor of Eastern Siberia. He considered the deal to be inevitable and urgently needed for Russia. 4 years later, this question was raised by the brother of the emperor, Prince Konstantin Nikolaevich.
Was present at the execution of the document and its signing E. Stekl, Russian diplomat. For the transaction, as well as for "faith, law and tsar" E. Stekl was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, a monetary reward of 25,000 rubles and an annual pension.
How much did you sell Alaska for?
The agreement to sell Russian America, or Alaska, was postponed several times. At first, the deal was postponed due to the Civil War in the United States, then the authorities of the countries waited for the expiration of the RAC benefits. Nevertheless, negotiations took place, during which the exact cost of the peninsula was established - $ 7.2 million.
The question of who sold Alaska was not answered for a long time. The deal was classified as "secret", and only the emperor and five of his close ministers knew about the signing of the papers. The transfer of the peninsula to the United States was announced only 2 months after the agreement.
In some Russian newspapers this event was placed on the last pages, and no one attached much importance to it. Moreover, due to their ignorance and illiteracy, many people did not even know that there were distant northern regions belonging to the Russian Empire.
The amount that the Americans gave for the peninsula was very significant in those days. But, based on the vast area of Alaska, one square kilometer her land was only worth about $ 5. So it was a very good deal for America.
In October 1967, Alaska was officially transferred to the United States. Russia was represented by the government commissar A. Peshchurov. Immediately on this day, the Gregorian calendar entered into force on the peninsula. If on that day it was October 5 in the evening, then in the morning the residents woke up on October 18!
Myth or truth?
Since the history of the transfer of Alaska to the United States was shrouded in secrecy, there are still disputes and investigations on this issue. Some say that the Americans have been leased this land and are using it illegally. There are suggestions that the peninsula was sold by Catherine II. What really happened and who sold Alaska?
Russian America was sold by Emperor Alexander II during his reign. Catherine could not do this, since she died back in 1796.
Alaska was sold, not leased. This is evidenced by an agreement with the exact amount and signatures of the two parties. The only disagreement so far is the topic of money.
In one of the clauses of the contract, it was stated that America was obliged to pay Russia an amount of 7.2 million dollars in gold coins. However, it later turned out that Russia received a check from the United States with the amount specified in it. Where this check went, and who cashed it is still unknown.
Why was Alaska sold to America?
Of course, when selling Alaska, Russia pursued its own goals. There were several reasons to get rid of this harsh peninsula:
- The only profit that Alaska brought to Russia in those years was furs. The flow of hunters increased over time, and uncontrolled poaching destroyed most of the state's planned revenues. A sharp drop in the production of valuable furs led to the fact that Alaska was recognized as a loss-making region. The peninsula immediately lost its original commercial significance, and its territories completely ceased to be developed.
- The costs of maintaining, researching, extracting resources and protecting Alaska significantly exceeded the pennies that Russia received from it. In addition, the remoteness of the peninsula, the harsh climate and unacceptable living conditions have played a decisive role in the question of its importance for the country.
- Fighting that took place in those years in the Far East, showed the complete vulnerability of Alaska from invasion and capture. The government of the Russian Empire thought that in the event of an attack on Alaska, its lands would have to be given away. Therefore, it was more expedient to sell the peninsula and replenish the state treasury.
- Negotiations on the sale of Alaska took place just at the time of an unfavorable coincidence of certain circumstances. Another state, Great Britain, made claims on its territory. Therefore, it was profitable for the Russian Empire to sell Alaska and in this way get rid of the brewing conflict.
Alaska is an amazing, cold, proud land, rich and completely unknown. Only here there are 3 million of the purest lakes, 100 thousand glaciers, 70 dangerous volcanoes. About 5 thousand earthquakes occur in these parts annually, some of which reach a strength of 3.5 points.
- The capital of Alaska can only be reached by plane or ferry. It is unrealistic to travel by car, since the climate of the region is a constant riot of snow blizzards, storms, avalanches and icy winds.
- Alaska supplies 1/5 of all the oil needed by the United States. A rich field was found in 1968 in the village of Prudhoe Bay, from which the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline was laid.
- The presence of the oil pipeline in the virgin nature of the peninsula causes a storm of emotions among the defenders environment... The most publicized case was that that occurred in 2001. D. Lewis, being tipsy, fired at the pipeline, which contributed to the illegal oil splash in the amount of 6 thousand barrels. For this he received 16 years in prison and a huge fine - $ 17 million.
- Every animal in Alaska is the property of the state. If the animal dies under the wheels of the car, the driver must immediately report this to the special services. The carcass of a shot down large animal (elk or deer) is butchered, and the meat is given to poor families. It helps the needy inhabitants of the northern lands to survive the harsh winter months.
- Alaska has a peculiar cycle of days and nights. In summer, the sun does not set at all, and in winter there is a period of endless darkness. Due to the lack of solar heat and light, its inhabitants suffer from depressive conditions. However, there are advantages: thanks to the constant summer sun, some vegetables, such as cabbage, pumpkin, can reach incredible sizes.
- Fantastic reserves of gold have been found on the peninsula. In total, about 1000 tons of gold were mined in Alaska, and also huge reserves of silver and copper were discovered.
Correct decision or rash act?
When thunder struck the whole world about the colossal deposits of valuable metals, gas and oil on the peninsula, many began to ridicule the short-sighted Russian emperor, arguing how it was possible to sell Alaska, a gold mine. However, if you look at the situation from the position not of today, but of the times of 1867, a lot becomes clear.
At that time, the Russian Empire was mired in debt, intrigue, and waged war. Palo serfdom, from the treasury began to pay compensation to the nobles who could not cover their material losses. And the Crimean War took away a decent share of the state's funds.
In this difficult time, the Empire simply did not have the means and opportunities for development, research of Alaska. Of course, after a while it could be done. But, who knows, maybe if Alaska had not been sold then, they would have simply lost it, yielding to some invading country.
Every year, on October 18, Alaska hosts a festive celebration. In a merry swagger of costumed performances, cannons are fired, the flag of America is raised. Words of gratitude to Russia are spoken loudly for allowing the United States to conduct one of the most successful deals - the acquisition of rich land, once called "Russian America".
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150 years ago, on October 18, 1867, in the city of Novoarkhangelsk (now called Sitka) the Russian banner was lowered and the US flag was raised. This symbolic ceremony cemented the transition of our American territories to the United States. Alaska Day is a state holiday on October 18. However, disputes about the expediency of selling the territory do not subside to this day. Why Russia gave up its possessions in America - in the RT material.
- Signing of the agreement for the sale of Alaska, March 30, 1867
- © Emanuel Leutze / Wikimedia Commons
In the early 60s of the XIX century, Russia was in a crisis, which was associated with a defeat in Crimean war(1853-1856). Russia suffered, albeit not a crushing, but extremely unpleasant defeat, which exposed all the disadvantages of the political and economic system.
This land was ours: how Alaska was sold
On March 30, 1867, an agreement was signed in Washington on the sale by Russia of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to the United States of America. Solution…
Much needed reforming. Nicholas I, who died before the end of the war, left many unresolved issues to his heir, Alexander II. And in order to get out of the crisis, to raise the economy and restore prestige in the international arena, efforts and money were required.
Against this background, Alaska did not look like a profitable asset. The economic meaning of the development of American territories was primarily the fur trade. However, by the middle of the 19th century, this resource was largely depleted. Russian industrialists, being far from the "sovereign's eye", did not care about the preservation of natural wealth. The sea animal sea otter, whose fur was the most valuable resource, was already on the verge of destruction due to uncontrolled fishing.
Pragmatic calculation
Neither Russian government nor did the inhabitants of Russian Alaska have any idea that the region is rich in gold and oil. And oil in those years was valued in a completely different way than today. Alaska was in the long months of the sea route from St. Petersburg, so the government had no real opportunity to control it. Skeptics can also be reminded that the development of the northeast of the Asian part of the country, Russia properly undertook only in Soviet years... It is unlikely that Alaska would have been mastered faster and more efficiently than Chukotka.
- A Russian church on Kodiak Island off the southern coast of Alaska. The ground is covered in volcanic ash after the eruption of the Katmai volcano
- © The Library of Congress
Finally, only shortly before the sale of Alaska, Russia entered into the Aigun and Beijing agreements. According to them, significant territories were included in the state Of the Far East, all of the present Primorye, a significant part of the modern Khabarovsk Territory and the Amur Region. All these lands required intensive development (this is precisely why Vladivostok was founded).
The Aigun Treaty was the merit of an outstanding administrator, Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, Count Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky, whom every Russian today knows from the image of his monument on the five-thousandth bill. It was he who initiated the idea of selling Alaska. And it is difficult to reproach Muravyov-Amursky for the lack of patriotism. His position boiled down to just a rational choice, well expressed in the proverb "You chase two hares - you won't catch a single one."
- "Map of the Arctic Sea and Eastern Ocean", compiled in 1844
- © The Library of Congress
Russia had to either gain a foothold in the richest Far East, or continue to cling to distant Alaska. The government understood that if the Americans or the British from neighboring Canada took up a remote outpost seriously, then they would not be able to fight on an equal footing with them - the distances were too great for the transfer of troops, the infrastructure was too vulnerable.
Alaska in exchange for an empire
The sale of remote territories was not a unique Russian practice. IN early XIX century France sold the United States to a much warmer, close to the metropolis and rich in obvious resources at that time Louisiana. Recent and not the best examples were Texas and California, which Mexico yielded for next to nothing after direct American aggression. Russia chose the first between the Louisiana and Texas options.
To the gallery page
In the 60s years XIX For centuries, the United States and Russia were at the peak of friendly relations. The reasons for political conflicts between states have not yet appeared, moreover, Russia provided support to Washington during the civil war. Therefore, negotiations on the sale of Alaska were proceeding in a calm tone and on mutually beneficial terms, although they were not without bargaining. The United States did not exert any pressure on Russia, and it had neither grounds nor tools for this. The transfer of American territories to the United States became, albeit a secret, but completely transparent deal for the participants themselves.
For Alaska, Russia received about 11 million rubles.
The amount was significant at that time, but still they gave less for Alaska than, for example, for Louisiana. Even taking into account such a "junk" price on the American side, not everyone was sure that the purchase would pay off.
The money raised for Alaska was spent on the railway network, which was then only being built in Russia.
So thanks to this deal, the Russian Far East developed, railways, as well as the successful reforms of Alexander II were carried out, which ensured economic growth for Russia, restored international prestige and made it possible to get rid of the consequences of defeat in the Crimean War.
Dmitry Fedorov
The exact time of the beginning of the settlement of this cold and inhospitable territory is unknown. The first people who began to develop these lands were small tribes of Indians, ousted by stronger peoples from fertile lands. Gradually, they got to the islands, which today are called the Aleutian, settled in these harsh lands and firmly settled on them.
Many years later, in these lands, the Russians are from the Far North. While the European powers were scouring in search of new colonies in tropical seas and oceans, the Russians were developing the lands of Siberia, the Urals and regions of the far north. Alaska was open to the entire civilized world during the expedition of the Russian pioneers Ivan Fedorov and Mikhail Gvozdev. This event took place in 1732, this date is considered official.
But the first Russian settlements appeared in Alaska only half a century later, in the 80s of the 18th century. The main occupations of the people living in these settlements were hunting and commerce. Gradually, the harsh extreme north began to turn into a good source of income, since the fur trade in those days was equated with the gold trade.
In 1781, the entrepreneur Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov founded the North-East Company in Alaska, which was engaged in the extraction of furs, the construction of schools and libraries for the local population, and developed the presence of Russian culture in these lands. But, unfortunately, the lives of many talented, smart people who care for the cause and Russia are cut off in the prime of life. Shelekhov died in 1975 at the age of 48.
Soon, his company was merged with other fur trading enterprises, it became known as the "Russian-American Trading Company". Emperor Paul I, by his decree, endowed the new company with monopoly rights for the extraction of furs and the development of lands in the northeastern region of the Pacific. Until the 30s of the XIX century, the interests of Russia in these northern lands were jealously guarded by the authorities and no one was going to sell or give them away.
Sale of Alaska USA
By the end of the 1830s, at the court of Emperor Nicholas I, the opinion began to form that Alaska was unprofitable, and investing money in this region was a pointless exercise. By that time, the uncontrolled predatory destruction of foxes, sea otters, beavers and minks led to a sharp drop in fur production. “Russian America” has lost its original commercial significance, vast territories have practically ceased to be developed, and the influx of people has dried up.
There is a widespread myth, and even a whole one that Catherine II sold Alaska, the buyer was allegedly proud Britain. In fact, Ekatirina II did not sell Alaska or even lease it. Sold these northern lands belonging to Russia, Emperor Alexander II and this deal was forced. Having ascended the throne in 1855, Alexander faced numerous problems that required money to solve. Realizing perfectly well that selling his land is a shameful thing for any state, he tried to avoid this during 10 years of his reign.
Initially, the US Senate expressed doubts about the advisability of such a burdensome acquisition, especially in a situation when the country had just ended Civil War and the treasury was depleted.
However, the financial situation of the court was getting worse, and it was decided to sell Russian America. In 1866, a representative of the imperial court was sent to Washington, who negotiated the sale of the northern lands of Russia, everything was done in an atmosphere of strict confidentiality, conspiring for an amount of 7.2 million dollars in gold.
The expediency of acquiring Alaska became apparent only thirty years later, when gold was discovered on the Klondike and the famous "gold rush" began.
To comply with all political conventions, the sale was officially made a year later after secret negotiations, for the whole world the United States was the initiator of the deal. In March 1867, after the legal registration of the deal, Russian America ceased to exist. Alaska received the status of a colony, was later renamed a district, and in 1959 it became a full-fledged United States. In Russia, the deal to sell the distant northern lands went almost unnoticed, only a few newspapers noted this event on the back pages of their editions. A lot of people did not even know about the existence of these distant northern lands belonging to Russia.
For more than a century, the Russian Empire owned Alaska and the adjacent islands, until 151 years ago Alexander II ceded these lands to the United States for more than seven million dollars - on March 30, 1867, a sale agreement was signed in Washington.
According to an alternative version, Alaska was not sold, but rented out for a hundred years, but comrade Khrushchev in the 57th year actually gave it to the Americans. Moreover, some are convinced that the peninsula is still ours, since the ship on which the gold was transported as payment for the deal sank.
One way or another, this whole story with Alaska has become obscured over the years. We propose to figure out how it happened that a part of another continent became part of Russia and from what they decided to sell the lands on which 200 million dollars were mined in gold 30 years after the sale.
Turnips and potatoes to you
In 1741, Vitus Bering, an outstanding Russian traveler of Danish origin, crossed the strait between Eurasia and North America (which was later named after him) and became the first person to explore the coast of Alaska. Half a century later, the merchant and part-time navigator Grigory Shelikhov arrived there, who taught the local population to turnips and potatoes, spread Orthodoxy among the natives and even founded an agricultural colony "Glory to Russia". From that time on, Alaska began to belong Russian Empire as a discoverer, and its inhabitants, unexpectedly for themselves, became subjects of the emperor.
Indian sabotage
View of the capital of Russian Alaska - Novo-Arkhangelsk
The Indians, and they can be understood, were unhappy with the fact that strangers seized power over their lands, and even forced them to eat turnips. They expressed their displeasure by the fact that in 1802 they burned the Mikhailovskaya Fortress, which was founded by the company of Shelikhov and his business partners. Together with the church, elementary school, shipyard, workshops and arsenal. And three years later, another stronghold of the Russians was set on fire. These audacious ventures would never have been successful for the natives if they had not been armed by American and British entrepreneurs.
No matter what happens
They pumped out a lot of money from Alaska: the fur of the sea otter cost more than gold. But the greed and shortsightedness of the hunters led to the fact that already in the 1840s there were practically no valuable animals left on the peninsula. True, by that time, oil and gold had been discovered in Alaska. It is this, paradoxically, that became the most important incentive to get rid of these territories as soon as possible. The fact is that American prospectors began to actively arrive in Alaska, and the Russian government reasonably feared that American troops would come after them or, even worse, the British would descend. The empire was not ready for war, and it would be completely foolish to give Alaska for thanks.
Onerous acquisition
The first page of the agreement "on the cession to the North American United States of the Russian North American Colonies"
The idea to sell Alaska while it is still possible came from the brother of the Emperor Konstantin Romanov, who served as head of the Russian Naval Staff. This proposal was approved by the autocrat Alexander II and on May 3, 1867 he signed an agreement on the sale of the overseas lands of the United States for 7.2 million dollars (at the current exchange rate - about 119 million gold). On average, it turned out to be somewhere under four and a half dollars per square kilometer with all the real estate located on it.
In accordance with the procedure, the treaty was submitted to the US Congress. The Foreign Affairs Committee (you can look at the faces of the members of this committee in the picture above) expressed doubts about the advisability of such a burdensome acquisition in a situation when the civil war in the country had just ended. Nevertheless, the treaty was ratified, and the Stars and Stripes flag flew over Alaska.
Where is the money, Zin?
Check for the purchase of Alaska. Issued in the name of Eduard Andreevich Stekl
Baron Eduard Steckl, chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy in Washington, received a check for $ 7,200,000. He took 21 thousand for his work, 144 thousand as promised bribes he gave to the senators who voted for the ratification of the treaty. The rest was sent to London by bank transfer. The gold bars bought for this amount were transported by sea to St. Petersburg. When converting currency, first into pounds, and then into gold, they lost about one and a half million.
But this is not so bad. The Orkney ship carrying gold bars sank on its way to the Russian capital. The company, which registered the cargo, declared itself bankrupt, and the damage was only partially compensated. Meanwhile, a gold rush began on the peninsula, and, as already mentioned, over 30 years gold was mined there for $ 200 million.
On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th US state, although these lands were sold to America by Russia back in 1867. However, there is a version that Alaska was never sold. Russia leased it for 90 years, and after the lease expired, in 1957, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev actually donated these lands to the United States. Many historians argue that the agreement on the transfer of Alaska to the United States was not signed by either the Russian Empire or the USSR, and the peninsula was borrowed from Russia free of charge. Whatever it was, Alaska is still covered with an aura of secrets.
Russians taught the natives of Alaska to turnips and potatoes
During the reign of the "quietest" Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov in Russia, Semyon Dezhnev swam across the 86-kilometer strait separating Russia and America. Later, this strait was named Bering in honor of Vitus Bering, who explored the coast of Alaska in 1741. Although before him, in 1732, Mikhail Gvozdev was the first of the Europeans to determine the coordinates and mapped the 300-kilometer coastline of this peninsula. In 1784, Grigory Shelikhov was engaged in the development of Alaska, who taught the local population to turnips and potatoes, spread Orthodoxy among the natives-horsemen and even founded an agricultural colony "Glory to Russia". Since that time, the inhabitants of Alaska have become Russian subjects.
The British and Americans armed the natives against the Russians
In 1798, as a result of the merger of the companies of Grigory Shelikhov, Nikolai Mylnikov and Ivan Golikov, the Russian-American Company was formed, the shareholders of which were statesmen and the great dukes. The first director of this company is Nikolay Rezanov, whose name is known today to many as the name of the hero of the musical "Juno and Avos". The company, which some historians today call "the destroyer of Russian America and an obstacle to the development of the Far East," had monopoly rights to furs, trade, the discovery of new lands, granted. The company also had the right to defend and represent the interests of Russia.
The company founded the Mikhailovskaya Fortress (today Sitka), where the Russians built a church, primary school, shipyard, workshops and arsenal. Every ship that came to the harbor where the fortress stood was greeted with a salute. In 1802, the fortress was burned down by the natives, and three years later another Russian cap suffered the same fate. American and British entrepreneurs sought to liquidate the Russian settlements and for this they armed the natives.
Alaska could become a cause of war for Russia
For Russia, Alaska was a real gold mine. For example, the fur of the sea otter cost more than gold, but the greed and shortsightedness of the hunters led to the fact that already in the 1840s there were practically no valuable animals left on the peninsula. In addition, oil and gold were discovered in Alaska. It is this fact, no matter how absurd it sounds, that became one of the incentives to get rid of Alaska as soon as possible. The fact is that American prospectors began to actively arrive in Alaska, and the Russian government reasonably feared that American troops would come after them. Russia was not ready for war, and it was completely imprudent to give Alaska penniless.
At the ceremony for the transfer of Alaska, the flag fell on Russian bayonets
October 18, 1867 at 15.30. the solemn ceremony of changing the flag on the flagpole in front of the house of the ruler of Alaska began. Two non-commissioned officers began to lower the flag of the Russian-American Company, but it got tangled by the ropes at the very top, and the falin broke off altogether. Several sailors, on orders, rushed upstairs to unravel the flag that was torn into tatters hanging from the mast. The sailor, who got to the flag first, did not have time to shout to dismount with the flag, and not throw it down, and he threw the flag down. The flag hit the Russian bayonets. Mystics and conspiracy theorists should have rejoiced.
Immediately after the transfer of Alaska to the United States, American troops entered Sitka and plundered the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, private houses and shops, and General Jefferson Davis ordered all Russians to leave their homes to the Americans.
Alaska has become an extremely profitable deal for the United States
The Russian Empire sold the uninhabited and inaccessible territory to the United States at $ 0.05 per hectare. It turned out to be 1.5 times cheaper than the developed territory of historical Louisiana was sold by Napoleonic France 50 years earlier. America offered only $ 10 million for the port of New Orleans, and besides, the lands of Louisiana had to be redeemed from the Indians living there.
Another fact: at the time when Russia sold Alaska to America, the state treasury paid more for a single three-story building in the center of New York than the American government for the entire peninsula.
The main secret of selling Alaska - where is the money?
Eduard Steckl, who had been Chargé d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Washington since 1850 and was appointed envoy in 1854, received a check for 7 million 35 thousand dollars. He kept 21 thousand for himself, and gave 144 thousand to the senators who voted for the ratification of the treaty as bribes. 7 million were transferred to London by bank transfer, and from the British capital to St. Petersburg, the gold bars bought for this amount were transported by sea.
When converting currency, first into pounds, and then into gold, they lost another 1.5 million. But this loss was not the last. On July 16, 1868, the Orkney barque, carrying the precious cargo, sank on its way to St. Petersburg. Whether at that moment there was Russian gold on it, or it did not leave the borders of Foggy Albion, remains unknown today. The company that registered the cargo declared itself bankrupt, so the damage was only partially compensated.
