150 years ago Russia sold Alaska to USA

Фото: Depositphotos

Exactly 150 years ago, 30 in March 1867, the government of the Russian Empire for $ 7,2 million sold its property in North America with a total area of ​​1 518 800 km² to the United States of America.

Now these possessions are part of the United States under the name of Alaska, the transfer of which America is still causing heated debate.

Alaska was open to the old world in 1732 year Russian expedition, therefore, was possession of Russia in North America. At first, it was mastered not by the state, but by private individuals, but starting from 1799 years - a specially established monopoly - Russian-American Company (CANCER).

The area of ​​the territory sold was 1 518 800 km² and was practically not inhabited - by the assessment itself CANCER, at the time of the sale, the population of the entire Russian Alaska and Aleutian Islands was about 2,5 thousands of Russians and about 60 thousands of Indians and Eskimos. At the beginning of the 19th century, Alaska brought revenues through trade. furshowever, by the middle of the century it began to appear that the cost of maintaining and protecting this remote and vulnerable (from a geopolitical point of view) territory would outweigh the potential profit.

The first question about the sale of Alaska to the United States before the Russian government was raised by the Governor General of Eastern Siberia Count N. N. Muravyov-Amursky in the 1853 year, pointing out that this, in his opinion, is inevitable, and at the same time will strengthen Russia's position on the Asian Pacific coast in the face of increasing penetration The British Empire.

Directly east of Alaska stretched Canadian tenure The British Empire. Relations between Russia and Britain were determined by geopolitical rivalry and were sometimes openly hostile.

Фото: Depositphotos

During Crimean Warwhen the British fleet tried to land the landing в Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the possibility of a direct collision in America has become real. Under these conditions in the spring 1854 years From the American government, who wanted to prevent the British Empire from occupying Alaska, a proposal was made to fictitiously (temporarily, for a period of 3) sell Russian-American company all his possessions and property for $ 7 600 000. RAC concluded such an agreement with the American-Russian trading company in San Francisco, but it did not enter into force, since the CANCER was able to reach an agreement with the British Hudson's Gulf company.

Formally, the next offer for sale came from the Russian envoy in Washington, Baron Edward Steklya, but this time the initiator of the deal was the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich (younger brother Aleksandra II).

At the suggestion of the Ministry of Finance, a threshold was determined - no less than 5 million dollars in gold. 22 December 1866 d. Alexander II approved the border of the territory, and in March 1867, the Glass arrived in Washington and reminded the Secretary of State William Seward "About the proposals that were made in the past about the sale of our colonies" and added that "at present the imperial government is set to enter into negotiations." With the consent of the president Johnson, Seward already during the second meeting with Stekle, held on March 14, was able to discuss the main provisions of the future treaty.

18 March 1867 President Johnson signed the official credentials of Seward, and the Secretary of State negotiated with Steckle almost immediately, during which a draft agreement on the purchase of Russian possessions in America for $ 7,2 million was agreed upon.

The signing of the contract took place March 30 1867 years in Washington. It was signed in English and French (“diplomatic” languages ​​of the time).

Despite the fact that this deal is already 1,5 century, the debate on this issue lasts until now.

One of them was the discussion organized by the Egor Gaidar Foundation and the Free Historical Society for the 150 anniversary of the treaty. Lenta.ru report gathered a few quotes from the discussion.

“It is necessary to find out the reason for the mysterious sympathy for America of the Romanov dynasty and the secret of the sale of Alaska - there is a mystery here too. The document on the sale of this territory stipulated that the entire archive that existed at that time in Russian America would go undividedly to the United States. Apparently, the Americans had something to hide, and they wanted to hedge their bets,” said historian Yuri Bulatov.

“The arguments that were presented in the letter, I would say, are still dangerous today. For example, Konstantin Nikolaevich was the chairman of the Russian Geographical Society, and suddenly he makes a discovery, saying that Alaska is very far from the main centers of the Russian Empire. The question arises: why should it be sold? There is Sakhalin, there is Chukotka, there is Kamchatka, but for some reason the choice falls on Russian America,” the historian added.

Bulatov does not agree with the arguments of the leadership of the Russian Empire, which guided the sale of Alaska.

“The Russian-American company allegedly does not make a profit. This is incorrect, since there are documents that say that there were incomes (maybe not as much as we would like, but there were). The third point: the treasury is empty. Yes, indeed it was so, but $7,2 million did not make a difference. After all, in those days the Russian budget was 500 million rubles, and $7,2 million dollars was a little more than 10 million rubles. Moreover, Russia had a debt of 1,5 billion rubles,” he is sure.

The historian noted that the argument that the sale would improve relations between Russia and America in general "disarms with its naivety."

“Such arguments are not only frivolous, but also criminal. Today, on their basis, any territory could be sold. In the west - the Kaliningrad region, in the east - the Kuril Islands. Far? Far. No profit? No. Is the treasury empty? Empty. There are also questions about retention during a military conflict. The relationship with the buyer will improve, but for how long? The experience of selling Alaska to America has shown that it won’t last,” Bulatov emphasized.

The land, which increased the territory of the United States by 20%, went to the US government on 4 cent per hectare, but it was a very profitable deal for Russia, said the publication Voice of America.

For comparison, in 1803, Napoleon sold the States Louisiana territory with numerous densely populated cities for $ 3 million.

In 1896, rich gold deposits were discovered in Alaska. For 4 of the year, the gold diggers have washed $ 300 million worth of this precious metal.

In 1900, Alaska began commercial production of copper, and in the second half of the twentieth century, this state became a major oil producer. Since 1980's, winter tourism has been actively developing there.

At the moment it is the only US state whose residents receive a share of the sale of oil.

Read also on ForumDaily:

How to become a resident of Alaska

Utah celebrates the 121 anniversary of the United States: what you need to know about this state

Ranking of the best for the life of US states

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.