Who sold Alaska

The question of who sold Alaska is one of the most difficult in Russian history. Many simply do not know the answer, they confuse the names of the autocrats, who, in their opinion, took responsibility for such a deal with America. The fact of land sales is documented. Therefore, to dispel any doubt is quite simple - you just need to familiarize yourself with the sources.

How it was in reality: who sold Alaska

Alaska was actually discovered by Russian navigators I. Fedorov and M. Gvozdev in 1732. According to official data, its discovery dates back to 1841 and belongs to Captain A. Chirikov. For sixty years, the fact of discovering these lands did not interest Russia at all. Territory it was mastered only by Russian merchants, who bought furs from local residents.

In 1799 the situation changed somewhat. Officially, the territory of Alaska began to belong to Russia as a pioneer. However, in fact, the state was still not interested in these lands. Only Siberian merchants benefited from the natural riches of open lands for themselves, mining coal, hunting a fur seal and supplying ice to the United States (at that time refrigeration plants had not yet been invented).

In the middle of the XIX century from remote lands that did not deliver any problems to the leadership of Russia, they did not demand money for maintenance, and therefore they constantly remained out of the zone of attention, unexpected news arrived. In Alaska they found a deposit of gold.

So why then were the rich lands transferred to another state? Who sold Alaska and why? Who is responsible for making a decision that today seems unreasonable to many? At the time of sale of land, Emperor Alexander II knew perfectly well that they were rich in native metal. The initiative to sell them from him did not come directly.

For the first time, N. Muraviev-Amursky, Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, spoke of the possibility of selling land, who considered such a deal inevitable. Four years later he was supported by the Grand Duke Constantine Romanov. He considered that having learned about the gold deposits, England would certainly attempt to seize the land (Russia did not have the strength to defend in these parts), and then the Empire would lose any advantage. In addition, the government realized that revenues from these lands in the future may not cover the costs of its protection and protection. This was especially disadvantageous if we take into account the remoteness of lands from the main territory of the Russian Empire.

At that time, Russia had a particularly friendly relationship with the United States, especially after it refused to support the West in its bid to regain control over the American territories.

Alexander II, the Russian emperor, decided that the sale of Alaska to the United States was a decided decision. Negotiations began, the holding of which was entrusted to Eduard Andreevich Stepuk. He competently intrigued, wishing to achieve the creation of a favorable climate for the transaction (the US government initially the idea of acquisition met without much enthusiasm).

The sale was postponed several times because of various events (waiting for the expiration of the privileges of the Russian-American Company, then the end of the American Civil War).

But on March 30, 1867 the treaty was signed by both parties. The Russian Empire declined by about 1.5 million square kilometers, and its treasury increased by 7.2 million dollars. Officially, the land in the possession of the United States was transferred on October 18, 1867.

Was it the one who sold Alaska? Many Russian historians consider this deal a big mistake by Russia. However, when analyzing this problem, it is impossible to discount the existing situation at the time of sale in the Russian Empire. At that time, such a deal was fully justifiable in terms of the interests of the all-Russian economy and politics.

So, who sold Alaska to America? Of course, such a person is the emperor Alexander II, who, although he was not the initiator of the deal, but placed a decisive signature under it.