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.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it, too, really, but Russia is nothing if not unpredictable.
DeleteNotice whose names are missing? Yes, the indigenous people who have lived there and protected that land for many general.
ReplyDeleteThe indigenous people always suffer, resettled in unfamiliar territories. My late brother did years of work with Canadian native peoples, accompanying them to Parliament for redress.
DeleteI am somewhat surprised that tRump didn't offer it when they met.
ReplyDelete. . . as a bargaining chip!
DeleteGenerations
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI never thought that Russia might like to take Alaska back. Interesting thought.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, Putin might claim it as part of the original Russian Empire. It's only 2.4 miles away at the nearest point.
DeleteI remember "Seward's Folly" from my long-ago high school history class. I think Seward could enjoy the last laugh!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he did.
DeleteInteresting question. with Trump , anything could happen.
ReplyDeleteIt's unlikely, but, on the other hand . . . Canada as a US state? As you say, anything could happen.
DeleteAs 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.
ReplyDeleteStranger things have happened.
DeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteFrom Bing:
DeletePopulation: As of 2025, Alaska has an estimated Russian-American population of around 40,000. That’s about 0.85% of the state’s total population.
What 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.
ReplyDelete. . . or Trump. He might find it quite a useful bargaining chip.
DeleteWith Putin incharge of Russia, nothing would be a surprise, but surely going against USA would be very foolish.
ReplyDeleteIt would be foolish, but when has sense entered the minds of those two leaders?
DeleteHi 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
ReplyDeleteThat is a book I must track down and read (along with several dozen others . . . )
DeleteRussia 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.
ReplyDeleteThe need for money was overriding.
DeleteIf they were to try they'd need to extract themselves from Ukraine, muster resources and by the time they had struck it would be to realize the gold has all gone, the easy oil has been burned, no one will buy the trees and the dog mushers have all moved to Canada or Norway. It would go back to being just an ice-box
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteBuying and selling countries and states. Quite obscene 😔
ReplyDeleteIt's a numbers game. No thought for the people.
DeleteI didn't realize that Alaska had been owned by Russia. I guess I never paid very close attention when things like this were being taught in school.
ReplyDeleteIt seems odd to me that a state could be bought and sold.
Louisiana once belonged to the French!
DeletePutin would love to do to us what he is doing to Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteI doubt he'd seriously try it, but he's unpredictable and power mad.
DeletePutin will have to be content with a Baked Alaska from Waitrose. I hope they lace it with arsenic.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I thought of baked Alaska, too - much overrated.
DeleteHad no idea Russia owned Alaska -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI hope they never will again.
DeleteWould they be happy to let Russia have it, like they've suggested Ukraine give their land to Russia? Trump is a mad man who thinks he is a king! Love your heading photograph, you as a young girl, beautiful!!
ReplyDeletePutin's not good at seeing the other person's point of view.
ReplyDeleteglad to learn this. I didn’t know that it once belonged to Russia. Alaska is a beautiful state and I am so very thankful that it does belong to the US.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of you with the hat!! Nice background information about Alaska. Who knew?
ReplyDelete