Alaska
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Why did Russia sell Alaska?
Russia discovered Alaska in the first half of the eighteenth century, claiming the coast for the Russian Empire in 1741. The first settlement was made on Kodiak Island in 1784, but it didn’t become a formal colony for another fifteen years.
Few Russians settled in Alaska, finding it inhospitable. Primarily, they traded in sea otter skins, which were popular with the Chinese, because of their fine, soft quality. Sea otters had been hunted almost to extinction by the first half of the nineteenth century.
Whaling and fishing were secondary pursuits, with a trade in ivory from walrus tusks. Timber and ice were plentiful and were sometimes supplied to Russia and, on occasion, to California.
In 1867, impoverished by its three-year war (1853-1856) and eventual defeat in the Crimea, Russia desperately needed money to return the country to some stability.
The US Secretary of State, William Seward, agreed to buy Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million. It was thought at the time to be an expensive, foolish purchase, and was denigrated as ‘Seward’s Folly’ and ‘Seward’s Icebox.’ The procurement added more than 586,000 square miles to the US, but no-one thought the remote territory a worthwhile economic purchase. There is historical disagreement over that opinion.
However, almost thirty years later, in 1896, gold was discovered. That precipitated the Klondike Gold Rush, which, followed by the discovery of oil, ensured that the acquisition of Alaska came to be celebrated.
Would
Russia attempt to ‘reclaim’ Alaska one day?
I doubt Russia would attempt to reclaim Alaska right now, which would mean taking on the United States, but if the USA's fortunes ebb I think the territory would make an attractive target.
ReplyDeleteNotice whose names are missing? Yes, the indigenous people who have lived there and protected that land for many general.
ReplyDeleteI am somewhat surprised that tRump didn't offer it when they met.
ReplyDeleteGenerations
ReplyDeleteI never thought that Russia might like to take Alaska back. Interesting thought.
ReplyDeleteI remember "Seward's Folly" from my long-ago high school history class. I think Seward could enjoy the last laugh!
ReplyDeleteInteresting question. with Trump , anything could happen.
ReplyDeleteAs for Russia “reclaiming” Alaska it’s more a provocative political talking point than a realistic possibility. Alaska is firmly part of the U.S., strategically vital, and deeply integrated into American identity.
ReplyDeleteThe Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska in Anchorage has 78 parishes, monasteries and missions across the state. See the 78 Russian Orthodox churches built in the architectural style of these churches taken straight from those in Russia. So we can understand why the Russian-Alaskans were so upset.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful sunset. There's so much world history that I don't know, always something new to learn. I wouldn't put anything past the Russians.
ReplyDeleteWith Putin incharge of Russia, nothing would be a surprise, but surely going against USA would be very foolish.
ReplyDeleteHi Janice - it's a fascinating part of the world ... I loved finding out more when I was out on Vancouver Island, and then read about Vitus Bering in a book I wrote up in July 2018 'Island of the Blue Foxes' ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteRussia wasn't in it for the long haul and ended up losers with their short sightedness. Why didn't it know motor cars were coming and hence needing lots of oil? Seriously, to sell land in the great continent of North America, even if its riches weren't known, really was a mistake.
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