In what year did they sell Alaska to America? Alaska: history

The history of selling Alaska is still considered by many to be one of the most mysterious transactions in Russia. Some believe that this land was sold by the Empress Catherine II. Others believe that Alaska was not sold to the United States, but was given by the decree of this reigning person for ninety-nine years. The time has expired, but the Russians have never returned. It would be like in the times of the Soviet Union, General Secretary Brezhnev did not want to take her back.

But if you remember, in what year they sold Alaska to America, it becomes clear that Catherine has nothing to do with this. Rules Russia during this period, the Emperor Alexander II. And it was he who played in history the decisive role that some attribute to other rulers. This Russian tsar is accused of having practically donated a huge territory. But there was only one version of official history in the official history of how the situation was in fact, how the original territorial triangle of Alaska Russia-the United States was formed, some details of which are still unknown to many.

Geography

Even the schoolboy knows that this peninsula is a cold and harsh land where the Arctic and subarctic climatic zones reign. Severe frosty winters with winds knocked down and snow-covered snowstorms in this region is the norm. And it's not surprising: it's enough just to imagine where Alaska is. An exception is only a small part of the Pacific coast, where the climate is temperate and quite suitable for human life. Includes the state of Alaska, the continental territory of North America to the border with Canada. In addition, it includes the Aleutian, Fox, Trinity and the islands of the archipelago of Alexander. Also, this peninsula is a narrow strip of land stretching along the Pacific coast, connected with the Dixon-Entrance Strait. It is here that one of the most original capitals in the world is located - Juneau.

Alaska - Russia

The United States called this region only "Russian America." In the second half of the eighteenth century, fur traders began to show increasing interest in Alaska. Already in the early sixties here, on the island of Unalashka, the Russians founded a settlement and, naturally, a port through which the trade in mined fur was to be conducted. In 1784 the merchant and researcher Grigory Shelikhov organized an expedition to his own resources, during which he built a settlement on the island of Kodiak.

At the end of the century, European seafarers came here, who even attempted to declare Spain's sovereignty over certain areas of Alaska. However, they did not achieve any results. And today, in these parts, only some non-local geographical names resemble them, for example the port of Valdez.

The same Shelikhov several years later initiated the organization of a commercial company for the development of Alaska, the creation of which was supposed to be of the British East India type. It was created in 1799, and the first head of it was again Alexander Andreevich Baranov, who from the late eighties represented the interests of Russian industrialists in America. It was he who founded several settlements in Alaska, including the modern Sitka, which was then called the city of Novoarkhangelsky.

The company as a whole was of a dual nature. On the one hand, she was engaged in predatory fur trade, but at the same time contributed to the development in some areas of farming and cattle breeding. Since the beginning of the eighties, this activity was complicated by the struggle with American and British entrepreneurs who armed local Aborigines to fight against Russians.

And in 1824, Russia signed several treaties with the governments of the United States and Britain. These documents at the state level determined the boundaries of Russian possessions on the territory of North America. Until the time when Alaska became American, it was less than four and a half decades.

Difficult situation

In 1861, in Russia, as is known, abolished serfdom. In order to pay compensation to his landlords, as well as to pay the costs of the company, the Tsar Alexander II was forced in 1862 to borrow fifteen million pounds sterling from the Rothschilds at five percent per annum. However, the financial magnates soon had to return something, and the royal treasury was empty.

The very first with an initiative that presupposes the sale, or rather the joining of Alaska to America, was N. Muravyov-Amursky - Governor-General of Eastern Siberia. It happened in 1853 year. In his opinion, the deal was simply inevitable. But then no one listened to him. And four years later the Grand Duke Constantine - the younger brother of the Sovereign - offered Alexander "something unnecessary" to sell. The most unnecessary thing was the northern unexplored land, which the Russians, in fact, did not master.

The mere fact of alienation, like the history of the sale of Alaska by Russia today, is widely perceived by many in their own way. But then the reasons were more than obvious: this huge territory never brought Russian special income, and sea otters, fur seals and other owners of valuable fur that were in demand at the world market at that time, for the most part were already interrupted by industrialists. In general, the colony basically survived only due to large deliveries of ice to the cities of the State of California. Contain in this icy territory military garrisons and officials working here to master the colossal land, there was then nothing. Russia, which barely survived the Crimean War, experienced financial difficulties after the defeat.

Prehistory

Naturally, the history of the transfer of Alaska to America has its forerunner, in addition, such a step pursued certain goals and had good reasons. It is known that at the beginning of the nineteenth century this land brought significant revenues through the trade in furs, but by the sixties of the same century it turned out that the expenditure would later be significantly larger than the potential profit. It will be necessary to constantly spend not only on the banal content of this territory, but also on its protection, and if you remember where Alaska is located on the map, you can imagine what a pretty penny it would have cost a bankrupt Russian empire.

Prerequisites

Officially, the history of the sale of Alaska by Russia says that the proposal for the deal came from the famous Russian diplomat Eduard Stoeckl. And the negotiations began precisely at the time when Great Britain began to make its claims on this territory.

And this was another reason why it was very beneficial for Russia to get rid of its northern land.

The question of what year Alaska was sold to America by the Russians, today causes considerable controversy. Some call the year 1866, others - 1867th. I must say that both dates correspond to reality.

Secret negotiations

On December 16, 1866, on a gloomy, gloomy winter day, Emperor Alexander II called a meeting. It was attended by his brother Prince Constantine, the ministers of the sea and financial departments, as well as Baron Eduard Stoeckl, the Russian ambassador to Washington. I must say that the idea of selling the participants was approved and supported. Actually, from this moment, Alaska's accession to the United States began. At first they waited for the expiration of the privilege term of the Russian-American Company, then - the civil war in the USA. But nevertheless on March 18, 1867, the president of America, Johnson, after much thought, finally signed a decree on the transfer of special powers to William Seward. At the suggestion of the Minister of Finance, the minimum threshold price for Alaska was set: five million rubles. A week later, the Russian emperor, having approved the borders of his state, sent Stoeckl to America with an official address to Secretary of State Seward. After that, literally immediately began to negotiate, during which it was possible to agree on an agreement on the purchase of Alaska from the Russian state for seven million dollars.

USA and tsarist Russia

By the beginning of the sale process, Russia's relations with America reached a climax. Even in the years of the Crimean War, the US repeatedly stressed that if the borders of the conflict expand, they will not occupy the anti-Russian position. The intention to sell Alaska was kept in deep secrecy. Surprisingly, given the already sufficient level of foreign intelligence services in the third countries, information was not leaked. The London Times newspaper was very worried about the mysterious mutual sympathy that is rising between the US and Russia. Moreover, the money paid for these northern lands has paid off in a short period of time, and there is no need to talk about the strategic plus from this deal, it is enough to just imagine where Alaska is located on the map.

The British dissatisfaction was justified: the treaty of 1867 not only made these two states nearest neighbors, but also enabled the Americans to surround English possessions in all directions from all sides in the north. Oils to the fire added and the statement of the American General Welbridge at the dinner in honor of the delegation of Russians. Its meaning was as follows: on the planet there are two significant hemispheres, the western and the eastern, with one representing the United States, and the other - Russia. Naturally, this was only a fine diplomatic game of words, but the fact remains that the Russians seriously supported the Americans in their elevation.

Direct transmission

The signing of the treaty took place on March 30, 1867 in Washington. It was compiled in French and English, which at that time were diplomatic languages. It is interesting that there is simply no official text in Russian. According to the terms of the treaty, America completely crossed the Alaska Peninsula, as well as its coastal strip about ten miles to the south.

The US Senate, while doubting the feasibility of such a purchase, but most of its members supported the deal.

On October 18, 1867, Alaska was officially handed over to the Americans. From the Russian side, A.Peshchurov, a special government commissioner, captain of the second rank, signed the protocol on the transfer of this territory. Interestingly, on this day the Gregorian calendar was also introduced . Therefore, the inhabitants of Alaska woke up on the eighteenth of October, although they went to bed on the fifth of October. Therefore, if the answer to the question about the year in which Alaska was sold to America, the answer is unambiguous, then this can not be said about the date of signing the treaty.

Mystic

On the eighteenth of October, 1867, at half-past four in the afternoon, a flag change took place on a flagpole located in front of the house of the ruler of Alaska. Russian and American troops lined up, and at the signal of one non-commissioned officer on each side began to lower the banner raised during the Russian-American campaign. The ceremony itself took place in an atmosphere of great solemnity, although, until the flag, entangled at the very top in the ropes, did not cause the fall of the Falinese.

On orders, several sailors rushed to climb upstairs to try and untangle the cloth left from the banner, which hung in rags on the mast. However, no one thought of shouting from below the sailor, the first to reach him, that he did not throw the banner down, and tears would be with him. And when he threw it from above, the flag fell on the Russian bayonets. Mystics this incident would seem a sign, but at that moment it never occurred to anyone to think about it. In general, the history of the transfer of Alaska to America is shrouded in thousands of myths, but many of them are untrue.

Stekl and his mission

A significant role in the sale of Alaska was played by diplomat Stoeckl. Since 1850, he was an attorney in the affairs of the Russian embassy in the United States, and since 1854 he transferred to the post of Russian envoy. Wife Stoeckl was an American, so he was sufficiently integrated into the upper circles of American society. Such extensive contacts helped him, they facilitated the transaction. The Russian diplomat actively lobbied the interests of the Russian emperor. In order to persuade the Senate to take a decision to buy Alaska, Stoeckl gave bribes using all of his connections. Alexander the Second assigned him a reward of twenty-five thousand dollars, as well as a life pension of six thousand rubles.

Edward immediately after the sale of Alaska briefly arrived in St. Petersburg, but soon left for Paris. Until the end of his life, this diplomat shunned Russian society, however, it is him too. After the story with Alaska for Stekle, notoriety remained. And there were reasons for that.

Where's the money?

Seven million and thirty-five thousand dollars - that's how much it left from the originally stipulated 7.2 million. Eduard Stoeckl, having received the check, left himself a reward, paid almost a hundred and a hundred thousand bribes to the senators who voted for ratification, and transferred the remaining money by bank transfer to London, From where to St. Petersburg on the sea went bought for the whole amount of gold bullion. Some of the payment was lost and when converted into pounds and gold. But this was not the last loss of Russia.

The main historical issue is not in the year in which Alaska was sold to America, but in where the money from this transaction was diverted.

Bark Orkney, on board which was so long-awaited for the Russian state of the cargo, on July 16, 1868, sank already on the way to St. Petersburg. It is still unknown whether there was gold on it, or it did not leave the Foggy Albion. Moreover, the insurance company declared itself completely bankrupt, and therefore the damage to the Russians was partially reimbursed. Duty Rothschildam could not pay, but a huge piece of land royal Russia nevertheless lost.

Mistakes and speculation

The history of the sale of Alaska by Russia still gives rise to all sorts of judgments and speculations. Since the negotiations were conducted in the strictest secrecy, the signing of the treaty was hidden for a long time. And only a year later in the "Diplomatic Yearbook" was published a convention in French. Such secrecy gave rise to speculation primarily about the fact that Alaska was rented by the United States for a period of ninety-nine years, and after this period it will be returned to Russia again. Such an erroneous version has become so tenacious that, when this period has expired, demands began in the middle of the last century to transfer it back. But, unfortunately, this was just an error. Alaska did not rent out, but was sold forever.

Data

It is interesting that the US over the past two centuries has actively increased its territory. Few know that in 1803 America bought France from Louisiana for fifteen million dollars, a little later for the sum of three times less than it was Spain had successfully acquired Florida. And only after ten years, in 1818, during the process of "inheritance", the United States moved from Mexico to a large part of the territory.

Equally noteworthy is the fact that Alaska was officially the next state only in 1959, but not in 1867, when it was sold.