It's been 147 years, and the Russians still remember a bad word in 1867.Who rules Russia at that time?Who made this short-sighted decision, as the sale of the rich mineral and gold on the Alaska Peninsula?How could so carelessly dispose of the country's wealth?There were a lot of questions, but the answers come only with age, because around this business a lot of rumors and speculation.According to some, Alaska is not sold, but only given out, and back to return the forgotten, on the other - the territory gave the Americans Catherine II the Great, in the third - the ship, which carried gold from America, sank, documents have disappeared, so the transaction can beconsidered invalid.But what was really the case?
Opening of Russian territory
first learned about Alaska in 1732 thanks to the Mariners M. Gvozdev and Fedorov, but the official opening date of the peninsula is considered to be 1841, because it was then that Captain A. Chirikov registered territory.Russian Empire, this land was not interested because it was uninhabited, far from settled, it was difficult to get there.Alaska actively developing Russian merchants who bought furs from the local population, and later they began commercial mining and mineral exploration, and it lasted to 1867.Who rules Russia at that time?The reins held in his hands, Alexander II, but the king had many problems and without Peninsula, so it hosted, mostly merchants, created together with the American businessmen own company for the extraction of resources.In Alaska, they mined coal, delivered in the United States ice and fur seals.
decision to sell the peninsula
1867 in the history of Russia was significant, it was then that its territory was reduced to 1.5 million km2.Prince Konstantin Romanov, brother of the emperor, the king advised to get rid of Alaska.The peninsula was discovered minerals and gold deposits.Many sources say ignorance of the Russian side of the resources of the territory, but it is not.The Emperor was well aware of how rich Alaska, and yet he was afraid to attack the British, because he had nothing to defend.Alexander II ordered to negotiate with the friendly United States for the sale of their peninsula.
talks with the US government was approaching
1867.Who rules Russia at the time, I was raised in a very strict conditions.Alexander II risked all to remain with nothing, because the appetite of British monarchs were huge.In the US envoy of the Russian Empire was Baron Eduard Stoeckl, and instructed him to negotiate.It was originally listed price of $ 5 million in gold, but the baron yourself raised it to 7.2 million. The Americans do not really want to purchase icy and uninhabited territory.Stoeckl handing out bribes, bribing newspapers writing laudatory articles about Alaska, in the end, the US agreed to buy the peninsula.
contemporaries and subsequent generations remember very well in 1867 in Russia's history.Those who run the show?It may seem that the emperor has influenced his younger brother, but it's not.Alexander II was well aware of the importance of his act, he simply had no choice.
Proper whether the decision taken by Russia?
Now we can argue about the need to sell a huge chunk of territory of the country, but we must understand that was then in 1867.Who rules Russia, perfectly understood the precariousness of their situation.Gold and minerals may attract enemies, including the UK and hostile, and the Russian Empire had nothing to defend themselves, the territory has not been strengthened.Of course, 7.2 million dollars for such a large and rich peninsula - a tiny sum, but in fact, Alexander II in general could get nothing if there invaded by the British, but still lost to the political face.Therefore, the sale of Alaska at the time was justified act.
