Russians in Alaska. A century of colonization of the American coast. Who gave Alaska to America? Did Catherine sell Alaska? History of the Sale of Alaska to America

And D. I. Pavlutsky -1735. Gvozdev's expedition fixed the territory of Cape Prince of Wales.

Russian America

In 1763-1765, an uprising of natives took place in the Aleutian Islands, which was brutally suppressed by Russian industrialists. In 1772, the first Russian trading settlement was founded on the Aleutian Unalashka. In the summer of 1784, an expedition under the command of G. I. Shelekhov (-) landed on the Aleutian Islands and on August 14 founded the Russian settlement of Kodiak. In 1791, Fort St. Nicholas. In 1792/1793, the expedition of the industrialist Vasily Ivanov reached the banks of the Yukon River.

In September 1794, an Orthodox mission arrived on Kodiak Island, consisting of 8 monks from the Valaam and Konevsky monasteries and the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, headed by Archimandrite Joasaph (since April 10, 1799, Bishop of Kodiak). Immediately upon arrival, the missionaries immediately began to build a temple and convert the pagans to the Orthodox faith. From 1816, married priests also served in Alaska. Orthodox missionaries made a significant contribution to the development of Russian America.

Russia clashed with the British Hudson's Bay Company. To avoid misunderstandings, in 1825 the eastern border of Alaska was delineated by agreement between Russia and Great Britain (now the border between Alaska and British Columbia).

Sale of Alaska

As part of the USA

To meet the spiritual needs of the Orthodox inhabitants of Alaska, the Aleutian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established in 1870 (currently the Diocese of Alaska as part of the Orthodox Church in America). Until 1917, bishops and priests came from Russia to Alaska, icons, vestments and church utensils, spiritual and liturgical literature were sent, funds were received for the construction and maintenance of churches and schools.

In 1880, the leader of one of the tribes of the Tlingit Indians named Kovi led two prospectors to the stream flowing into the Gastineau Strait. Joseph Juneau and Richard Harris found gold there and claimed the rights to the site - "Golden Stream", which turned out to be one of the richest gold mines. A settlement grew up nearby, and then the city of Juneau, which in 1906 became the capital of Alaska. The history of Ketchikan began in 1887, when the first cannery was built. The region developed slowly until the start of the Klondike gold rush in 1896. During the years of the gold rush in Alaska, about one thousand tons of gold was mined, which in April 2005 prices corresponded to 13-14 billion dollars.

"Golden fever"

The fever began after prospectors George Carmack, Jim Skookum and Charlie Dawson discovered gold on August 16, 1896, on Bonanza Creek, which flows into the Klondike River. News of this quickly spread to the inhabitants of the Yukon Basin. However, it took another year for the information to reach the big light. Gold was not exported until June 1897, when navigation opened and the ocean liners Excelsior and Portland took cargo from the Klondike. The Excelsior arrived in San Francisco on July 17, 1897, with a cargo worth about half a million dollars, piqued the interest of the public. When the Portland arrived in Seattle three days later, it was greeted by a crowd. Newspapers reported half a ton of gold, but this was an understatement as the ship carried over a ton of the metal.

In 1911, August 17 was declared Opening Day in the Yukon Territory. Discovery Day). Over time, the third Monday in August became a day off. The main festivities take place in the city of Dawson.

Alaska Territory

In 1912, Alaska received the status of a territory. In 1916, the population of Alaska numbered 58 thousand people. The economy was based on copper mining and fishing.

On June 3, 1942, Japanese aircraft attacked Dutch Harbor Naval Base and Fort Mears in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. In the same year, the Japanese took possession of a number of islands near Alaska for a year: Attu (June 6) and Kyska. In 1943, the bloody Battle of Attu took place there between the Japanese garrison of the island and the American-Canadian landing. As a result of this battle, 3,500 soldiers died on both sides.

US state

The post-war confrontation between America and the Soviet Union, the years of the Cold War further strengthened the role of Alaska as a shield against a possible transpolar attack and contributed to the development of its deserted expanses. Alaska was declared a state on January 3, 1959. Various mineral resources have been exploited since 1968, especially in the Prudhoe Bay area, southeast of Point Barrow. In 1977, an oil pipeline was laid from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused serious environmental pollution.

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Notes

TASS-DOSIER. October 18, 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of the official ceremony of transferring Russian possessions in North America to US jurisdiction, which took place in the city of Novoarkhangelsk (now the city of Sitka, Alaska).

Russian America

Alaska was discovered in 1732 by Russian explorers Mikhail Gvozdev and Ivan Fedorov during an expedition on the boat "Saint Gabriel". The peninsula was studied in more detail in 1741 by the Second Kamchatka Expedition of Vitus Bering and Alexei Chirikov. In 1784, an expedition of the Irkutsk merchant Grigory Shelikhov arrived on Kodiak Island off the southern coast of Alaska, and founded the first settlement in Russian America - the Harbor of the Three Saints. From 1799 to 1867, Alaska and the islands adjacent to it were under the control of the Russian-American Company (RAC).

It was created on the initiative of Shelikhov and his heirs and received a monopoly on fishing, trading and mining in the northwest of America, as well as on the Kuril and Aleutian Islands. In addition, the Russian-American Company held the exclusive right to open and annex new territories to Russia in the North Pacific.

In the years 1825-1860, RAC officers surveyed and mapped the territory of the peninsula. Local tribes that became dependent on the company were obliged to organize the trade of fur-bearing animals under the guidance of RAC employees. In 1809-1819, the cost of furs mined in Alaska amounted to over 15 million rubles, that is, approximately 1.5 million rubles. per year (for comparison, all revenues of the Russian budget in 1819 amounted to 138 million rubles).

In 1794, the first Orthodox missionaries arrived in Alaska. In 1840, the Kamchatka, Kuril and Aleutian diocese was organized, in 1852, Russian possessions in America were allocated to the New Arkhangelsk vicariate of the Kamchatka diocese. By 1867, about 12 thousand representatives of indigenous peoples who converted to Orthodoxy lived on the peninsula (the total population of Alaska at that time was about 50 thousand people, including about 1 thousand Russians).

The administrative center of Russian possessions in North America was Novoarkhangelsk, their total territory was about 1.5 million square meters. km. The borders of Russian America were secured by treaties with the USA (1824) and the British Empire (1825).

Plans to sell Alaska

For the first time in government circles, the idea of ​​selling Alaska to the United States was expressed in the spring of 1853 by the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky. He presented a note to Emperor Nicholas I, in which he argued that Russia needed to give up possessions in North America. According to the Governor General, the Russian Empire did not have the necessary military and economic means to protect these territories from US claims.

Muravyov wrote: "We must be convinced that the North American States will inevitably spread throughout North America, and we cannot help but bear in mind that sooner or later we will have to cede our North American possessions to them." Instead of developing Russian America, Muravyov-Amursky proposed to focus on the development of the Far East, while having the United States as an ally against Britain.

Later, the main supporter of the sale of Alaska to the United States was the younger brother of Emperor Alexander II, the chairman of the State Council and the head of the Naval Ministry, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich. On April 3 (March 22, old style), 1857, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Gorchakov, for the first time at the official level, he proposed to sell the peninsula to the United States. As arguments in favor of concluding a deal, the Grand Duke referred to the "cramped position of state finances" and the allegedly low profitability of American territories.

In addition, he wrote that "one should not deceive oneself and one must foresee that the United States, constantly striving to round off its possessions and wanting to dominate indivisibly in North America, will take the aforementioned colonies from us, and we will not be able to return them."

The Emperor supported his brother's proposal. The note was also approved by the head of the foreign affairs department, but Gorchakov suggested not rushing to resolve the issue and postponing it until 1862. The Russian envoy to the United States, Baron Eduard Stekl, was instructed to "find out the opinion of the Washington Cabinet on this subject."

As head of the Maritime Department, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich was responsible for the security of overseas possessions, as well as for the development of the Pacific Fleet and the Far East. In this area, his interests collided with the Russian-American Company. In the 1860s, the emperor's brother launched a campaign to discredit the RAC and oppose its work. In 1860, at the initiative of the Grand Duke and Minister of Finance of Russia Mikhail Reitern, the company was audited.

The official conclusion showed that the annual income of the treasury from the activities of the RAC amounted to 430 thousand rubles. (for comparison, the total revenues of the state budget in the same year amounted to 267 million rubles). As a result, Konstantin Nikolayevich and the Minister of Finance who supported him succeeded in obtaining a refusal to transfer the rights to the development of Sakhalin to the company, as well as the abolition of many trade benefits, which led to a significant deterioration in the financial performance of the RAC.

Make a deal

On December 28 (16), 1866, a special meeting was held in St. Petersburg in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue of the sale of Russian possessions in North America. It was attended by Emperor Alexander II, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, Finance Minister Mikhail Reitern, Naval Minister Nikolai Krabbe, Russian envoy to the United States Baron Eduard Steckl.

At the meeting, an agreement was unanimously reached on the sale of Alaska. However, this decision was not made public. The secrecy was so high that, for example, Minister of War Dmitry Milyutin found out about the sale of the region only after the signing of the agreement from British newspapers. And the board of the Russian-American Company received notification of the deal three weeks after it was formalized.

The conclusion of the treaty took place in Washington on March 30 (18), 1867. The document was signed by Russian envoy Baron Eduard Steckl and US Secretary of State William Seward. The deal amounted to $7 million 200 thousand, or more than 11 million rubles. (in terms of gold - 258.4 thousand troy ounces or $ 322.4 million in modern prices), which the United States pledged to pay within ten months. At the same time, in April 1857, in a memorandum of the chief ruler of the Russian colonies in America, Ferdinand Wrangel, the territories in Alaska belonging to the Russian-American Company were estimated at 27.4 million rubles.

The agreement was drawn up in English and French. The entire Alaska Peninsula, the Alexander and Kodiak archipelagos, the islands of the Aleutian ridge, and several islands in the Bering Sea passed to the United States. The total area of ​​the sold land territory was 1 million 519 thousand square meters. km. According to the document, Russia donated to the United States all the property of the RAC, including buildings and structures (with the exception of churches), and undertook to withdraw its troops from Alaska. The indigenous population was transferred under the jurisdiction of the United States, Russian residents and colonists received the right to move to Russia within three years.

The Russian-American company was subject to liquidation, its shareholders eventually received insignificant compensation, the payment of which was delayed until 1888.

On May 15 (3), 1867, an agreement on the sale of Alaska was signed by Emperor Alexander II. On October 18 (6), 1867, the Governing Senate adopted a decree on the execution of the document, the Russian text of which, under the heading "The Highest Ratified Convention on the Cession of the Russian North American Colonies to the United States of North America," was published in the Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire. On May 3, 1867, the treaty was ratified by the US Senate. On June 20, the instruments of ratification were exchanged in Washington.

Execution of the contract

On October 18 (6), 1867, the official ceremony of transferring Alaska to the ownership of the United States took place in Novoarkhangelsk: the Russian flag was lowered under the gun salutes and the American flag was raised. On the part of Russia, the protocol on the transfer of territories was signed by a special government commissioner, Captain 2nd Rank Alexei Peshchurov, on the part of the United States, by General Lowell Russo.

In January 1868, 69 soldiers and officers of the Novoarkhangelsk garrison were taken to the Far East, to the city of Nikolaevsk (now Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Territory). The last group of Russians - 30 people - left Alaska on November 30, 1868 on the ship "Winged Arrow" bought for these purposes, which followed to Kronstadt. Only 15 people accepted American citizenship.

On July 27, 1868, the US Congress approved the decision to pay Russia the funds stipulated in the agreement. At the same time, as follows from the correspondence of the Russian Minister of Finance Reitern with the US Ambassador to the United States, Baron Stekl, $165 thousand of the total amount was spent on bribes to senators who contributed to the decision of Congress. RUB 11 million 362 thousand 482 in the same year were placed at the disposal of the Russian government. Of these, 10 million 972 thousand 238 rubles. was spent abroad on the purchase of equipment for the Kursk-Kyiv, Ryazan-Kozlov and Moscow-Ryazan railways under construction.

A region in the northwest of North America, currently a US state.

Etymology and early settlers

The name comes from the Aleutian “alakshak” (large land, mainland, not an island). The first inhabitants of North America moved to this continent through Alaska 40 thousand years ago or later. The proto-Indian site Mesa dates back more than 11 thousand years ago. By the time the Europeans arrived, Alaska was settled.

Discovery of Alaska

In 1648, an expedition passed through the Bering Strait and may have seen the shores of Alaska. On August 21, 1732, during the expedition of A. Shestakov and D. Pavlutsky (1729-1735), the boat “St. Gabriel” under the leadership of S. Gvozdev and I. Fedorov (Cape Prince of Wales). In 1745, there was a skirmish between the Russians and the Aleuts on the island of Attu. From 1758, Russian "industrialists" lived from time to time in the Aleutian Islands, hunted, traded with the Aleuts and collected tribute (yasak) from them. In 1763-1765, the Aleuts rebelled, but were defeated. In 1772, the first permanent trading settlement was established on Unalaska Island. In 1761, the traveler G. Pushkarev reported on the discovery of a large land in these places. The expeditions of P. Krenitsyn - M. Levashov (1764-1769) and I. Billings - G. Sarychev (1785-1795) set the task of securing Russia's rights to Alaska and bringing the population into Russian citizenship.

In 1774, the Spaniards approached Alaska, and in 1778 D. Cook. In 1784, an expedition under the command of G. Shelekhov founded the settlement of Tryokhsvyatitelskoye on Kodiak Island. Since 1794, an Orthodox mission headed by Archimandrite (since 1799 - Bishop) Joasaph began to operate here. In 1791, Fort St. Nicholas.

Russian-American company

On July 8, 1799, the Russian-American Company (RAC) was created by decree for the monopoly development and management of Azerbaijan. A. Baranov was appointed the chief ruler of Alaska. Since 1796, he built the center of Alaska in Yakutat Bay: the Yakutat fortress and the city of Novorossiysk. However, Yakutat suffered from attacks by the natives and supply difficulties, and in 1805 the Russian settlement here was destroyed by the Tlingit during the war of 1802-1805, which delayed the advance of the Russians deep into Alaska. The center of Russian Alaska was moved to Novo-Arkhangelsk (now Sitka). In 1821, foreign trade was banned in Alaska. On February 28, 1825, the border was established between the Russian-American Company and the British Hudson's Bay Company (now the border between the United States and Canada). Russia thus received rights to 586,412 square miles (1,518,800 km²). However, she was unable to master them. The population of "Russian" Alaska and the Aleutian Islands was about 2,500 Russians and several tens of thousands of Indians and Eskimos.

By the middle of the 19th century, RAC was unprofitable. The Governor-General of Eastern Siberia in 1853 offered to sell Alaska. At the same time, it showed the vulnerability of Russian possessions remote from the center.

Sale of Alaska

In 1854, the US showed interest in acquiring Alaska (at least temporarily, to prevent its takeover by Britain). The RAC negotiated this with the American-Russian Trading Company, controlled by the US government, as well as the settlement of relations with the British Hudson's Bay Company.

In 1857, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich made a proposal to sell Alaska in a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Gorchakov, who supported this idea. In 1862, the RAC's privileges were expiring, and after that Russia was ready to discuss the terms of the sale, but the matter was put on hold until finalized. In the US, the idea of ​​buying Alaska was actively supported by Senator Ch. Sumner, who became chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

At a meeting with the emperor on December 16 (28), 1866, with the participation of Grand Duke Konstantin, the ministers of finance and the naval ministry, the Russian envoy to the USA, E. Stekl, the idea of ​​the sale was unanimously approved. The threshold of the amount below which Russia would not agree to cede Alaska was set at 5 million dollars in gold. On December 22, 1866, Alexander II approved the border of the ceded territory: the Alaska Peninsula along the line running along the meridian of 141 ° west longitude, then along the ridge of mountains parallel to the coast to 56 ° north latitude and Prince of Wales Island, including the Alexander archipelago, the Aleutian and other islands.

In March 1867, Steckl reminded U.S. Secretary of State W. Steward "of the proposals that have been made in the past for the sale of our colonies" and added that "at present the imperial government is disposed to enter into negotiations." President E. Johnson approved the start of negotiations. At a second meeting on March 14, 1867, Seward and Steckl discussed the main provisions of the future treaty.

On March 30, 1867, an agreement was signed on the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States for 7.2 million dollars in gold. Together with the territory of the United States received all real estate and archives.

On May 3 (15), 1867, the treaty was ratified by Alexander II, on October 6 (18), 1867. The Governing Senate adopted a decree on the execution of the "Highest ratified convention on the cession of the Russian North American Colonies to the United States of America."

The treaty could not be ratified by the US Congress as the congressional session ended. Johnson called an emergency executive session of the Senate. A discussion unfolded in the Senate, as some senators believed that after the end of the destructive war, such a purchase would be difficult for the US budget. It turned out that payment would be made through Stekl's personal account. However, the treaty was ratified by 37 votes to 2. On June 8, 1867, the instruments of ratification were exchanged. On October 6-7 (18-19), 1867, Alaska was officially transferred to the United States. The signing ceremony took place in Novo-Arkhangelsk (Sitka) aboard the US sloop Ossip.

Immediately after the transfer of Alaska to the United States, American troops arrived in Sitka.

Of the 11,362,481 rubles 94 kopecks received from the United States, most (10,972,238 rubles 4 kopecks) was spent on the purchase of supplies abroad for railways: the Kursk-Kyiv, Ryazan-Kozlov, Moscow-Ryazan and others. Thus, the sale of Alaska gave impetus to railway construction, which became one of the most important features of Russia's post-reform development.

Since 1867, the "Department of Alaska" was under the jurisdiction of the US Department of War, since 1877 - the Ministry of Finance, since 1879 - the Department of the Navy. The first governor was General J. Davis. On May 17, 1884, Alaska became a special administrative district headed by an appointed governor (the first of them was J. Kinkid). The affairs of Alaska began to be handled by various departments of the US federal government.

About 200 Russians and more than 1,500 Russian-speaking Creoles remained in Alaska. Alaska was part of the ninth judicial district of the United States, which also included the states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The closest judges lived in California and Oregon. It wasn't until 1934 that Alaskans received the status of American citizens.

Golden fever

In 1880, Indian Covey and prospectors J. Juneau and R. Harris found gold, creating the Golden Stream mine. The city of Juneau arose nearby and became the capital of Alaska in 1906. On August 16, 1896, prospectors J. Carmack, J. Skookum, and C. Dawson found gold on Bonanza Creek, which flows into the Klondike River. On July 17, 1897, a cargo of gold worth about half a million dollars arrived in San Francisco. A "gold rush" began in the USA and then in Europe, more than 18 thousand people, hoping for a quick enrichment, rushed to Alaska and western Canada (Yukon). Steam and oil burning were used to combat permafrost. Although the fever zone was located on both sides of the border, it was initially dominated by the self-government of miners, who were guided by supplies from the United States. In 1895, the Canadian Mounted Police began enforcing dominion laws in the Yukon. In Alaska, decisions, including judicial decisions, were made by open vote at a meeting of miners.

As part of the USA

The border between Canada and Alaska was not demarcated. In 1883, the American lieutenant F. Svatka established the approximate position of the 141st meridian, having missed by several kilometers. The geodetic party of W. Ogilvy in 1888 specified the location of the boundary on the ground. At the same time, in order to facilitate the further orientation of residents in the area, it was decided to name the settlements on the Canadian side after Canadian and figures, and on the US side - American ones. Difficulties were presented by demarcation in the south of Alaska in the area of ​​Lake Bennet due to the complex relief and bays. In 1895, the American-Canadian commission made a compromise decision on the border in the area of ​​Lake. Bennet, which went to Canada. The border dispute continued until October 12, 1903, when it was resolved by an international arbitration commission.

Since 1906, Alaska has been represented by a delegate in Congress. On August 24, 1912, Alaska received the status of a territory. In 1913, Governor J. Strong was elected. In 1916, the possibility of turning Alaska into a state was discussed, but this proposal was not supported. In 1917-1918, the McKinley and Katmai reserves (later national parks) were founded. The population of Alaska has grown in the first 20 years of the twentieth century from 44 thousand to 58 thousand people. They mined copper and gold, were engaged in fishing. With the passage of the Merchant Ships Act of 1920, trade with Alaska could only be carried out on US ships, primarily through Seattle. Because of this monopoly in Alaska, prices have risen significantly. At the same time, during the Great Depression, demand and prices for goods produced in Alaska fell. All this hindered the settlement of Alaska, but its development was facilitated by the development of aviation.

On June 3, 1942, Japanese aircraft attacked the naval base Dutch Harbor and Fort Mirs. On June 6, 1942, the Japanese landed on Attu Island, then captured Kiska Island. An airfield was created on Kiska and a large Japanese garrison was present. Admiral T. Kincaid sent the battleships Nevada, Pennsylvania and Idaho, the aircraft carrier Nassau, submarines, cruisers and destroyers to Atta. The 7th Infantry Division of General A. Brown was intended for the landing. On May 11, 1943, American troops landed on the island. Cold and non-flying weather, rugged terrain hampered the advancement of troops and air operations. The US moved 12,000 men to the island against 3,000 Japanese. On May 29, 1943, the commander of the Japanese garrison, Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki, attacked the Americans without hope of success. After hand-to-hand combat, almost all Japanese soldiers died. The Americans lost 549 killed and 1,148 wounded, 2,100 sick and frostbitten. Only 29 Japanese survived. In August 1943, the Americans landed on Kiska after a powerful bombardment of the island. Shortly before the landing, the Japanese left the island, which the American command did not know about, so that several dozen Americans died from friendly fire during the landing.

On January 3, 1959, Alaska became a state. In 1968, the Prudhoe Bay gas and oil field was discovered. In 1977, an oil pipeline was built from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez disaster resulted in an oil spill that severely damaged Alaska's environment.

Alaska is equal in area to three France. This is not only Klondike gold, but also tungsten, platinum, mercury, molybdenum, coal. And, most importantly, there is the development of giant oil fields, reaching up to eighty-three million tons per year. This is twenty percent of the total US oil production. For comparison: Kuwait produces about sixty-five, and the United Arab Emirates - seventy million tons per year.

Many contemporaries mistakenly believe that Catherine II sold Alaska. But it's not. A similar statement to some extent among young people became popular after the song of the Lyube group "Don't play the fool, America." It says that the empress was not right to do this with this area. Based on this, young people who do not understand history made a conclusion about who gave Alaska to America.

Geographical position

Today Alaska is the largest in area, forty-ninth This is the coldest territory of the country. Most of it is dominated by arctic and subarctic climatic zones. Here the norm is severe frosty winters, accompanied by strong winds and snow blizzards. The only exception is part of the Pacific coast, where climatic conditions are moderate and quite habitable.

Before sale

The history of Alaska (before its transfer to the United States) was connected with the Russian Empire. Back in the eighteenth century, this region belonged undividedly to the Russians. It is not known from what time the history of Alaska began - the settlement of this cold and inhospitable land. However, the fact that in the most ancient times there was a certain connection between Asia and Asia is beyond doubt. And it was carried out along which was covered with an ice crust. People in those days easily crossed from one continent to another. The minimum width of the Bering Strait is only eighty-six kilometers. Such a distance was quite within the power of any more or less experienced hunter to overcome on dog sleds.

When the ice age ended, the warming era began. The ice melted, and the coasts of the continents disappeared below the horizon. The people who inhabited Asia no longer dared to swim across the icy surface into the unknown. Therefore, starting from the third millennium BC, Indians began to master Alaska. Their tribes from the territory of present-day California moved north, adhering to the Pacific coast. Gradually, the Indians reached the Aleutian Islands, where they settled down.

Russian exploration of Alaska

Meanwhile, the Russian Empire began to rapidly expand its eastern borders. In the meantime, fleets from European countries constantly plowed the oceans and seas, looking for places for new colonies, the Russians mastered the Urals and Siberia, the Far East and the lands of the Far North. A whole galaxy of strong and courageous people went on ships not to tropical waters, but towards the ice of the harsh north. The most famous expedition leaders were Semyon Dezhnev and Fedot Popov, and Alexei Chirikov. It was they who in 1732 opened this land to the rest of the civilized world - long before Russia gave Alaska to America. This date is considered official.

But it is one thing to open, and another to equip a new land. The very first Russian settlements in Alaska appeared only in the eighties of the eighteenth century. People were engaged in hunting and commerce: hunters caught fur-bearing animals, and merchants bought them up. Gradually, this unpromised land began to turn into a source of profit, since valuable fur was equated with gold in all ages.

unprofitable edge

At first, in these northern lands, very rich in furs, the interests of the Russians were jealously guarded. However, the years passed, and the total destruction of the same foxes and sea otters, beavers and minks could not continue indefinitely. Fur production dropped sharply. Gradually, the Russian Klondike began to lose its commercial significance. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the vast lands were still practically not developed. This was the impetus, the first reason why Russia gave Alaska to America.

Beginning in the late thirties of the eighteenth century, an opinion began to form at the imperial court that Alaska was a loss-making region. Moreover, the king began to come to the conclusion that, apart from a headache, this land could not bring anything. It was from this moment that the story of the sale of Alaska to America began. Industrialists were sure that investing in these lands was complete madness, since they could not pay off. Russian people will not settle in this icy desert, especially since there are Siberia and Altai, and the Far East, where the climate is much milder and the lands are fertile.

The already difficult situation was exacerbated by the Crimean War, which began in 1853, which pumped huge amounts of money out of the state treasury. In addition, in 1855, Nicholas I died, who was replaced on the throne by Alexander II. They looked at the new emperor with hope. People expected new reforms. But what reforms are carried out without money?

Forever and ever

When it comes to who gave Alaska to America, for some reason everyone remembers Empress Catherine II. Many are sure that it was she who put her signature under the decree on the transfer of "Russian America" ​​to Britain. Allegedly, the conversation at first was not about selling, but only about renting for a century. They even tell a story that fully confirms that Catherine sold Alaska. As if the empress, who did not know the Russian language well, instructed a trusted person to draw up an agreement. The same one messed up with spelling: instead of writing down “Alaska is transferred for a century”, this person, out of absent-mindedness, made a note: “given forever”, which meant forever. So the answer to the question: "Who gave Alaska to America?" - "Catherine!" will be wrong. You still need to study the past of your country more carefully.

Alaska: history

Catherine II, according to official history, did nothing of the sort. With her, these lands were not leased, and even more so they were not sold. There were no prerequisites for this. The history of the sale of Alaska began only half a century later, already in the time of Alexander II. It was this emperor who ruled in an era when numerous problems began to emerge, the solution of which required immediate action.

Of course, this sovereign, who ascended the throne, did not immediately decide to sell the northern lands. It took a whole ten years before the question was ripe. Selling land for the state at all times was a very shameful thing. After all, this was evidence of the country's weakness, its inability to keep its subordinate territories in order. However, the Russian treasury really needed funds. And when they are not - all ways are good.

Purchase and sale

However, no one began to shout about it to the whole world. The question of why Russia gave Alaska to America was sensitive and political, and it required unorthodox solutions. In 1866, a delegate from the Russian imperial court arrived in Washington, D.C., and began secret negotiations on the sale of northern lands. The Americans showed complaisance, although the time for the deal was unsuccessful for them too. Indeed, in the United States, the Civil War unleashed between the South and the North had barely ended. Therefore, the state treasury was completely depleted.

Ten years after the time when Russia gave Alaska to America, buyers could be asked five times more, but the Russian court, according to historians, was pressed for money. Therefore, the parties agreed on only 7.2 million dollars in gold equivalent. And although at that time it was very decent money, in terms of current components about two hundred and fifty million dollars, however, anyone who is interested in the question of who gave Alaska to America will agree that these northern territories cost several orders of magnitude more.

One year later

After the conclusion of the agreement, the representative of the imperial court returned to Russia. And a year later, an urgent telegram signed by the President of the United States was sent to the name of the one who gave Alaska to America - the reigning Alexander II. It contained a business proposal: Russia was loudly, to the whole world, offered to sell Alaska. On the other hand, no one knew about the visit of the Russian representative to Washington prior to this telegram. It turned out that it was America that initiated the deal, but not Russia. Thus diplomatic and political conventions were cunningly preserved by both sides. In the eyes of the whole world, Russia managed not to lose its dignity. And already in March 1867, legal registration of documents was carried out. And since that time, "Russian Alaska" has ceased to exist. She was given the status of an American colony. Later it was renamed the district, and already in 1959 this northern land became the forty-ninth state of the United States.

In justification

Today, having learned who gave Alaska to America, one can, of course, condemn and scold the Russian Emperor Alexander II. However, if you take a closer look at the political and financial situation in Russia in those distant years, a very definite picture emerges, which to some extent justifies his decision.

In 1861, serfdom was finally abolished. Thousands of landlords were left without their peasants, which meant that a considerable estate lost its stable source of income. Therefore, the state began to pay compensation to the nobles, which was supposed to somehow cover their material losses. But for the treasury, such expenses amounted to tens of millions of royal rubles. And then the Crimean War broke out, and again money flowed like a river from the treasury.

Difficult situation for Russia

In order to somehow recoup the costs, the royal court borrowed huge sums abroad. Foreign governments with great pleasure gave in because she had untold natural wealth. A situation developed in the empire when every extra ruble became a joy, and especially one for which it was not necessary to pay interest on promissory notes.

That is why Catherine, the great Russian Empress, has matured - there is nothing to do with this issue. And it makes no sense to blame her, except perhaps that the state has reached a complete decline and with her light hand.

Difficulties in selling

Alaska is a distant northern land, constantly bound by eternal ice. She did not bring Russia a single penny. And the whole world knew about it very well. And so the imperial court was quite concerned about finding a buyer for this useless region of icy cold. Closest to Alaska was the United States. They were offered by Russia at their own peril and risk to conclude a deal. The American Congress, more precisely, many senators, did not immediately agree to such a dubious purchase. The issue was put to a vote. As a result, more than half of the senators voted categorically against the acquisition: the proposal from the Russian government did not arouse any enthusiasm among the Americans. And the rest of the world showed absolute indifference to this deal.

Effects

And in Russia itself, the sale of Alaska went completely unnoticed. Newspapers wrote about it on their last pages. Some Russians did not even know that it existed. Although later, when the richest gold reserves were found on this cold northern land, the whole world began to vied with each other to talk about both Alaska and the sale, ridiculing the stupid and short-sighted Russian emperor.

In serious political and financial matters, the subjunctive mood is unacceptable. None of those who later began to condemn Alexander II never suggested that such huge deposits of gold could be located in Alaska. But if we consider the deal not from today's positions, but from the situation that developed in 1867, then many believe that the Russian emperor did absolutely the right thing. And even more so, the sale of Alaska by Catherine is just an idle fiction that has no basis.

Conclusion

In total, one thousand tons of gold was mined on the lands of the former "Russian America". Some got fabulously rich on this, and some disappeared forever in this snowy desert. Today, Americans are very inert and somehow hesitantly settling in their inhospitable land. There are practically no roads in Alaska. Few settlements are reached either by air or by water. The railway here passes through only five cities. In total, six hundred thousand people live in this state.

Alaska is the northernmost state in the US. There are not many cities on its territory, and there are no large metropolitan areas at all.

Like everyone else, Alaska has a capital. But which city is the capital of Alaska? The answer to this question is contained in the text of the article.

State territory

Alaska occupies a vast territory, which includes the Alaska Peninsula, a narrow strip in the northwest of the continent, and the Alexander Archipelago. Alaska is an exclave separated from the US by Canada. The territory of the state is washed by two oceans: the Arctic from the north and the Pacific from the west and south. in the west separates Alaska from the Russian Federation. The relief of the state is special. A narrow strip of the Alaska Range stretches along the coastline, which is part of the world's greatest mountain range - the Cordillera. The ridge is known not only for its beautiful landscapes and huge glaciers, but also for the location on it of the highest peak in all of North America - Mount Denali.

The height of this mountain, also known as McKinley, is 6190 m. After the inland plateau, the Brooks mountain range in the north of the state follows. The climate, depending on the region, is different: from temperate maritime on the Pacific coast to arctic continental in the depths of the peninsula. The Aleutian Islands also have mountainous terrain. On the peninsula itself there are active volcanoes: Katmai, Augustine, Cleveland, Pavlova volcano. The Redoubt volcano erupted as recently as 2009. incredibly beautiful, despite the permafrost that covers a large area of ​​the state.

The capital of Alaska: history

During the development of the territory by Russian discoverers at the turn of the 17th-19th centuries, the city of Novo-Arkhangelsk (now Sitka) was the center of Alaska. Then it was the center of fur and After the sale of this territory to America, the same capital of Alaska, Sitka, remained. However, by the end of the 19th century, when the city ceased to be promising, the city of Juneau became the capital. Gold reserves were found here, then oil. Today, the capital of Alaska is Juneau.

The capital of Alaska: contentious issues

The capital is usually the largest city in terms of area and population. However, this principle does not apply in Alaska. The capital of the state of Alaska is far from the largest city: its population is about 35 thousand people. This peculiarity gives reason to believe that the state capital should be the city of Anchorage - the largest. In terms of population, it surpasses Juneau by almost ten times. The infrastructure of the city is much better developed than in the capital. So the question arises, is the capital of Alaska Anchorage or Juneau? The question of moving the capital from Juneau has been repeatedly raised by residents of Anchorage, but, according to the poll, the population of other cities is against the transfer. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Juneau is located closer to the continental states.

Juneau - Anchorage attractions

The capital of Alaska is a small town, which is traditionally considered the administrative center of the state. There are few attractions in the city, as, for example, in Anchorage. Here you can visit the Alaska State Museum, which displays historical details of the native inhabitants of southeastern Alaska - the Tlingit, Russian history in Alaska and American domination. The church of St. Nicholas, located in the city, is interesting and original. This is an Orthodox church built at the end of the 19th century by the Tlingit who converted to Orthodoxy. An important role in the financial side of the life of the city is played by ecotourism in incredibly beautiful, virgin places of northern nature.

Anchorage, like a larger city, has more attractions. The Heritage Center, the Imaginarium, the Anchorage Cultural Center, the Botanical Garden, the Zoo and much more can be visited in Alaska's largest city. The city, which emerged as a key rail junction, is connected to all cities in the state, so many tourist routes begin here.

The unique location of the city - between the two channels of Cook Bay and the Chugach Mountains, makes it possible to simply enjoy the nature of the American North, visit nature reserves and large national parks of the state. Anchorage is located four hundred kilometers from the world famous where the highest point in North America is located.