History with gold for Alaska. Why did Russia sell Alaska and where is the money? Difficult situation for Russia

Lease Alaska.

When?

The idea of selling Alaska to the United States was first expressed in 1853 by the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky.

He presented Nicholas I with a note in which he insisted on the need to sell the lands of Alaska.

This, as Muravyov wrote, would allow Russia to concentrate its forces on strengthening its position in East Asia, as well as improve relations with the United States and allow countries to be friends against England. Muravyov also wrote that over time, it would be difficult for Russia to defend such remote territories. Before the deal, the son of Nikolai Pavlovich, Emperor Alexander II, “ripened”. The signing of the treaty took place on March 30, 1867 in Washington.

What for?

Why did Russia sell Alaska? The geopolitical reason was already indicated by Muravyov-Amursky. It was important for Russia to maintain and strengthen its positions in the Far East. Britain's ambitions for hegemony in the Pacific were also troubling. Back in 1854, the RAC, fearing an attack by the Anglo-French fleet on Novo-Arkhangelsk, entered into a fictitious agreement with the American-Russian Trading Company in San Francisco to sell for 7 million 600 thousand dollars for three years all its property, including land holdings in North America. Later, a formal agreement between the RAC and the Hudson's Bay Company was concluded on the mutual neutralization of their territorial possessions in America.

Historians call one of the reasons for the sale of Alaska the lack of finances in the treasury of the Russian Empire. A year before the sale of Alaska, Finance Minister Mikhail Reitern sent a note to Alexander II, in which he pointed out the need for the strictest economy, emphasizing that for the normal functioning of Russia, a three-year foreign loan of 15 million rubles was required. in year. Even the lower limit of the deal for the sale of Alaska, designated by Reitern at 5 million rubles, could cover only a third of the annual loan. Also, the state annually paid subsidies to the RAC, the sale of Alaska saved Russia from these expenses.

The logistical reason for the sale of Alaska was also indicated in Muravyov-Amursky's note. “Now,” wrote the Governor General, “with the invention and development of railroads, more than before, we must be convinced of the idea that the North American States will inevitably spread throughout North America, and we cannot but bear in mind that it is early or later they will have to cede our North American possessions.

Railways to the East of Russia had not yet been laid, and the Russian Empire was clearly inferior to the states in the speed of logistics to the North American region.

Oddly enough, one of the reasons for the sale of Alaska was its resources. On the one hand, their disadvantage - valuable sea otters were destroyed by 1840, on the other hand, paradoxically, their presence - oil and gold were discovered in Alaska. Oil at that time was used for medicinal purposes, while Alaskan gold began the “hunting season” on the part of American prospectors. The Russian government rightfully feared that American troops would follow the prospectors there. Russia was not ready for war.

In 1857, ten years before the sale of Alaska, Russian diplomat Eduard Stekl sent a dispatch to St. Petersburg, in which he outlined a rumor about the possible emigration of representatives of the Mormon religious sect from the United States to Russian America. American President John Buchanan himself hinted at this in a joking manner.

Jokes, jokes, but Stekl was seriously afraid of the mass migration of sectarians, as they would have to put up military resistance. The "creeping colonization" of Russian America really took place. Already in the early 1860s, British smugglers, despite the prohibitions of the colonial administration, began to settle on Russian territory in the southern part of the Alexander Archipelago. Sooner or later, this could lead to tension and military conflicts.

Who?

Who sold Alaska? Only six people knew about the proposed sale of North American territories: Alexander II, Konstantin Romanov, Alexander Gorchakov (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Mikhail Reitern (Minister of Finance), Nikolai Krabbe (Minister of the Navy) and Edaurd Stoeckl (Russian envoy to the United States). The fact that Alaska was sold to America became known only two months after the transaction. [S-BLOCK]

Interestingly, legally, Russia never owned Alaska, it was under the control of the RAC. However, the deal to sell Alaska missed the Russian-American Company. None of its representatives was aware of the decision taken at the "secret mass" at Alexander II.

Not to sell, but to yield?

Recently, it has often been written that Alaska was not sold to America, but leased for 90 years. The lease allegedly expired in 1957. However, Alaska was not leased. And it wasn't sold either. The text of the document on the transfer of Alaska to the United States does not contain the word sell. There is a verb to sed, which translates as “yield”, that is, the Russian emperor transferred the rights of physical use of the negotiated territories to the United States. Moreover, the period for which the territories are transferred is not discussed in the contract.

glass

One of the most active participants in the sale (we will still call the deal so that there is no confusion) was Eduard Stekl, who in 1854 took the post of envoy of the Russian Empire to the states. Prior to that, he served as chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy in Washington (since 1850). Glass was married to an American and had extensive connections in the American political elite.

Stekl received a check for $7,035,000 - out of the initial $7.2 million, he kept $21,000 for himself, and handed out $144,000 as bribes to senators who voted to ratify the treaty.

For the transaction, Stekl received a reward of $25,000 and an annual pension of 6,000 rubles. He came to St. Petersburg for a short time, but was forced to leave for Paris - he was not liked in the highest Russian society.

Where's the money?

Finally, the main question: where did the money for the sale of Alaska go? 7 million dollars was transferred to London by bank transfer, from London to St. Petersburg on the barge "Orkney" the gold bars purchased for this amount were transported by sea.

When converted first into pounds and then into gold, another 1.5 million were lost, but the misfortunes for Alaskan money did not end there. On July 16, 1868, the ship sank on the approach to St. Petersburg.

It is still unknown if there was gold on the Orkney. It was not found during the search. The insurance company that insured the ship and cargo declared itself bankrupt, and the damage was only partially reimbursed.

With all this, the State Historical Archive of the Russian Federation contains a document written by an unknown employee of the Ministry of Finance in the second half of 1868, which says that “For the Russian possessions in North America ceded to the North American States, 11,362,481 rubles were received from the aforementioned States. 94 kopecks. Out of 11,362,481 rubles. 94 kop. spent abroad on the purchase of supplies for the railways: Kursk-Kyiv, Ryazan-Kozlov, Moscow-Ryazan, etc. 10,972,238 rubles. 4 kop. The rest are 390,243 rubles. 90 kop. came in cash."

Back in 1866, when the reins of government belonged to Emperor Alexander II, a representative of Russia was sent to Washington. The purpose of his trip was, in strict confidentiality, to negotiate with the US government on the sale of Alaska. A year later, in March 1867, a sale and purchase agreement was signed, in which America was the initiator of the deal for the whole world.

The treaty stated that the entire territory of the peninsula, as well as the 10-mile coastline to the south, became the property of the United States. Surprisingly, the text of this agreement was drawn up in two languages - English and French. There is no Russian version of this document.

The initial initiative to sell Alaska came from N. Muravyov-Amursky during his tenure as governor of Eastern Siberia. He considered the deal inevitable and badly needed by Russia. After 4 years, this issue was raised by the emperor's brother, Prince Konstantin Nikolayevich.

E. Stekl, a Russian diplomat, was present at the execution of the document and its signing. For the transaction, as well as for "faith, law and the king" E. Stekl was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, a cash reward of 25,000 rubles and an annual pension.

How much was Alaska sold for?

The agreement on the sale of "Russian America", or Alaska, was postponed several times. At first, the deal was delayed due to the American Civil War, then the authorities of the countries waited for the expiration of the RAC benefits. Nevertheless, negotiations took place, during which the exact cost of the peninsula was established - $ 7.2 million.

On the question of who sold Alaska, it was not in vain that they did not find answers for a long time. The deal was classified as "secret", and only the emperor and five of his close ministers knew about the signing of the papers. The transfer of the peninsula to the United States was announced only 2 months after the agreement.

In some Russian newspapers, this event was placed on the last pages, and no one attached much importance to it. Moreover, due to their ignorance and illiteracy, many people did not even know that there were distant northern regions belonging to the Russian Empire.

The amount that the Americans paid for the peninsula was very significant in those days. But based on the vast area of Alaska, one square kilometer of its land cost only about $5. So it was a very good deal for America.

In October 1967, Alaska was officially transferred to the United States. Russia was represented by the government commissioner A. Peshchurov. Immediately on this day, the Gregorian calendar came into force on the peninsula. If on that day in the evening it was October 5, then in the morning the inhabitants woke up on October 18!

Myth or truth?

Since the history of the transfer of Alaska to the United States was shrouded in secrecy, there are still disputes and investigations about this. Some say the Americans have been given this land on lease and are illegally using it. There are suggestions that the peninsula was sold by Catherine II. What really happened, and who sold Alaska?

"Russian America" was sold by Emperor Alexander II during his reign. Catherine could not do this, as she died in 1796.

Alaska was sold, not leased. This is evidenced by the contract with the exact amount and signatures of both parties. The only disagreement so far is the topic of money.

One of the clauses of the contract stated that America would pay Russia $7.2 million in gold coins. However, it later turned out that Russia received a check from the United States with the amount written on it. Where this check went, and who cashed it, is still unknown.

Why was Alaska sold to America?

Of course, when selling Alaska, Russia pursued its own goals. There were several reasons to get rid of this harsh peninsula:

The only profit that Alaska brought to Russia in those years was furs. The flow of hunters increased over time, and uncontrolled poaching destroyed most of the state's planned income. A sharp drop in the production of valuable furs led to the fact that Alaska was recognized as a loss-making region. The peninsula immediately lost its original commercial significance, and its territories completely ceased to be developed.
The costs of maintaining, exploring, extracting resources and protecting Alaska significantly exceeded the pennies that Russia received from her. In addition, the remoteness of the peninsula, the harsh climate and unacceptable living conditions played a decisive role in the question of its importance for the country.
The fighting that took place in those years in the Far East showed the complete insecurity of Alaska from invasion and capture. The government of the Russian Empire thought that in the event of an attack on Alaska, its lands would have to be given away for free. Therefore, it was more expedient to sell the peninsula and replenish the state treasury.
Negotiations for the sale of Alaska took place just at the time of an unfavorable confluence of certain circumstances. Another state, Great Britain, made claims to its territory. Therefore, it was beneficial for the Russian Empire to sell Alaska and in this way get rid of the brewing conflict.

Alaska is an amazing, cold, proud land, rich, and completely unknown. Only here there are 3 million cleanest lakes, 100 thousand glaciers, 70 dangerous volcanoes. Every year, about 5 thousand earthquakes occur in these parts, some of which reach a strength of 3.5 points.

The capital of Alaska can only be reached by plane or ferry. It is unrealistic to make a trip by car, since the climate of the region is a constant riot of snow blizzards, storms, avalanches and icy wind currents.
Alaska supplies 1/5 of all the oil needed by the US. A rich deposit was found in 1968 in the village of Prudhoe Bay, from which the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline was laid.
The presence of the oil pipeline in the virgin nature of the peninsula causes a storm of emotions among environmentalists. The most publicized case occurred in 2001. D. Lewis, being tipsy, fired at the oil pipeline, which contributed to the illegal spill of oil in the amount of 6 thousand barrels. For this, he received 16 years in prison and a huge fine - $ 17 million.
Every animal in Alaska is the property of the state. If the animal died under the wheels of the car, the driver must immediately report this to the special services. The carcass of a downed large animal (moose or deer) is butchered, and the meat is given to poor families. This helps the needy inhabitants of the northern lands survive the harsh winter months.
Alaska has a peculiar cycle of days and nights. In summer the sun does not set at all, and in winter there is a period of endless darkness. Due to the lack of solar heat and light, its inhabitants suffer from depression. However, there are also advantages: due to the constant summer sun, some vegetables, such as cabbage, pumpkin, can reach incredible sizes.
Fantastic reserves of gold have been found on the peninsula. In total, about 1,000 tons of gold were mined in Alaska, and huge reserves of silver and copper were also discovered.

The right decision or a rash act?

When the whole world thundered about the colossal deposits of valuable metals, gas and oil on the peninsula, many began to ridicule the short-sighted Russian emperor, arguing how it was possible to sell Alaska - a gold mine. However, if you look at the situation from the position not of today, but of the times of 1867, much becomes clear.

At that time, the Russian Empire was mired in debt, intrigue, and waged war. Serfdom fell, compensation began to be paid from the treasury to the nobles, who could not cover their material losses. Yes, and the Crimean War took a decent share of the state's funds.

During this difficult time, the Empire simply did not have the means and opportunities for development and exploration of Alaska. Certainly, in time it could be done. But who knows, maybe if they had not sold Alaska then, they would simply have lost it, ceding it to some invasive country.

Every year, on October 18, a solemn holiday is held in Alaska. Cannons are fired in a cheerful spirit of costumed performances, the flag of America is raised. Loudly spoken are the words of gratitude to Russia, which allowed the United States to make one of the most successful deals - the acquisition of rich land, once called "Russian America".

The Alaska Purchase strengthened the United States. The money paid for it paid off in a short time, and the strategic plus for the United States from this deal simply cannot be overestimated. As for Russia... The money from the sale of Alaska never made it to the Empire.

The deal to sell Alaska is unique in that it was done in a very narrow circle. Only six people knew about the proposed sale: Alexander II, Konstantin Romanov, Alexander Gorchakov (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Mikhail Reitern (Minister of Finance), Nikolai Krabbe (Minister of the Navy) and Edaurd Steckl (Russian envoy to the United States). The fact that Alaska was sold to America became known only two months after the transaction. Its initiator is traditionally considered the Minister of Finance Reuters.

A year before the transfer of Alaska, he sent a special note to Alexander II, in which he pointed out the need for the strictest economy and emphasized that for the normal functioning of the empire, a three-year foreign loan of 15 million rubles was required. in year. Thus, even the lower limit of the transaction amount, indicated by Reuters at 5 million rubles, could cover a third of the annual loan. In addition, the state paid annual subsidies to the Russian-American Company, and the sale of Alaska saved Russia from these expenses. RAK did not receive a penny from the sale of Alaska.

Even before the historical note of the Minister of Finance, the idea of selling Alaska was expressed by the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia Muravyov-Amursky. He said that it would be in Russia's interests to improve relations with the United States in order to strengthen its positions on the Asian coast of the Pacific Ocean, to be friends with America against the British.

Goldmine

Alaska was a real gold mine for Russia. In the literal and figurative sense. One of the most expensive acquisitions of Alaska was the valuable fur of the sea otter, which cost more than gold, but due to the greed and shortsightedness of the miners, by the forties of the 19th century, valuable animals were practically destroyed. In addition, oil and gold were discovered in Alaska. Oil at that time was used for medicinal purposes, while the gold found in Alaska, ironically, became one of the incentives to sell Alaska as soon as possible.

American prospectors began to arrive in Alaska, and the Russian government rightly feared that American troops would follow the prospectors. Russia was not ready for war. Giving away Alaska without getting a penny for it was imprudent to say the least.

Mormons and Creeping Colonization

Ten years before the sale of Alaska, E.A. In 1857, Stekl sent a dispatch to St. Petersburg, in which he stated a rumor about the possible emigration of representatives of the Mormon religious sect from the USA to Russian America, which the American President John Buchanan himself jokingly hinted to him. Although it was only rumors, Stekl wrote with concern that in the event of a mass resettlement of American sectarians in Alaska, the Russian government would face an alternative: to offer armed resistance or give up part of its territory.

In addition, there was a "creeping colonization", which consisted in the gradual resettlement of the British and Americans in the territory of Russian America and adjacent lands. AT At the beginning of the 1860s, British smugglers began to settle on Russian territory in the southern part of Arch. Alexander, despite the formal prohibitions of the colonial administration. Sooner or later, this could lead to tension and military conflicts.

Fall of the flag

On October 18, 1867, at 3:30 p.m., the flag was changed on the flagpole in front of the house of the chief ruler of Alaska. American and Russian troops lined up at the flagpole. On a signal, two non-commissioned officers began to lower the flag of the Russian-American company. The ceremony did not lose a degree of solemnity until the flag got tangled in the ropes at the very top, and the painter did not break. By order of the Russian commissar, several sailors rushed to climb up to unravel the flag, which hung on the mast in tatters. They didn’t have time to shout from below to the sailor, who was the first to get to him, so that he would not throw the flag down, but would get down with him, when he threw it from above: the flag fell right on the Russian bayonets. Conspiracy theorists and mystics should rejoice in this place.

Bad reputation

Eduard Stekl played a significant role in the sale of Alaska. Since 1850, he acted as chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy in Washington, and in 1854 he took the post of envoy. Glass was married to an American woman and was deeply integrated into the upper echelons of American society. Extensive connections helped him to carry out the deal, he actively lobbied for the interests of his leadership. In order to persuade the US Senate to buy Alaska, he gave bribes and used all his connections.

Stekl was dissatisfied with his $25,000 reward and an annual pension of 6,000 rubles. Eduard Andreevich briefly arrived in St. Petersburg, but then left for Paris. Until the end of his life, he eschewed Russian society, as it did him. After the sale of Alaska, Glass fell into disrepute.

Was there gold?

The most important secret of selling Alaska lies in the question: "Where is the money?". Stekl received a check for $7,035,000 - out of the initial $7.2 million, he kept $21,000 for himself, and handed out $144,000 as bribes to senators who voted to ratify the treaty. 7 million was transferred to London by bank transfer, and already from London to St. Petersburg, the gold bars purchased for this amount were transported by sea.

When converting first into pounds, and then into gold, another 1.5 million were lost, but this was not the last loss. The bark "Orkney" (Orkney), on board of which there was a precious cargo, sank on July 16, 1868 on the way to St. Petersburg. Whether there was gold in it at that time, or whether it did not leave the limits of Foggy Albion at all, is unknown. The insurance company that insured the ship and cargo declared itself bankrupt, and the damage was only partially reimbursed.

Most likely, there was no gold on Orkney. It was not found during the search operation. Where did it go - the main mystery of the sale of Alaska. There is a version that this money went to purchase materials for construction roads, but it is much more interesting to think that the money mysteriously disappeared, otherwise what kind of secret is it?

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 and merchants bought them. 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?" - "Ekaterina!" 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 kind. 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 have been 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 received from the Russian government did not cause 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.

Who, how and why actually sold Alaska?

Such a skeptical question about the transfer of Alaska to the United States by the Russian Empire is shrouded in secrets and delusions. No one needs to explain why, but it’s worth dispelling the main myths associated with this issue.

Let's start with the first one: Alaska was given to the Americans by Catherine II" - it is a myth!
Alaska was officially ceded to the United States in 1867, that is, 71 years after the death of the Great Empress. One can only assume that the roots of this myth lie in the complex relationship between Soviet power and tsarism, and in a not very good attitude towards Catherine II, as the suppressor of the peasant uprising Emelyan Pugachev. And Catherine the Great was not just an empress - her reign marked an entire era, the period of her reign is called the "golden age" of the Russian Empire. That is why Soviet propaganda had every motive to slander Catherine II, thereby reducing her authority for history. This myth was forever fixed in the minds of the Soviet people by the beloved Lube group. For the sake of propaganda or for the red word in the hit of the 90s "Don't play the fool, America!" the Lyube group accused Catherine II, the collector of Russian lands (under no other ruler of Russia, so many significant territories were included in the empire and so many cities and settlements were created) of surrendering Alaska.
In fact, the great-grandson of Catherine II sold Alaska to the States, Alexander II.

Emperor of Russia Alexander II (Romanov dynasty).

Since 1799, Alaska officially began to belong to the Russian Empire as a discoverer of territories. In the same years, Alaska with the adjacent islands (the common name of Russian America) came under the control of the Russian-American Company. The Russian-American Company is a semi-state Russian, colonial, trading union, which consisted mainly of Siberian merchants who traded in furs and coal. It was they who reported to the center about the gold deposits found in Alaska. Accordingly, the accusations of Alexander II of "political myopia" are groundless. He knew everything, both about resources and about the gold mine, and was fully aware of his decision. But did he have another way out? The proposal to surrender Alaska to the United States came from the Emperor's brother, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov, who headed the Empire's Naval Ministry. It was he who inspired his older brother about the possible imminent encroachment of England on the resource-rich territories of Alaska (very close to Alaska was the English colony - "British Columbia" (province of modern Canada). If England seized Alaska, Russia would lose everything, since the empire would have to defend not able (already too remote territory), and the navy was not really in the northern seas.Selling Alaska meant getting at least some money, saving face and strengthening friendly relations with the United States.

Map of Northwest America in 1867 with marked territories that were transferred by the Russian Empire to the United States of America.

Another important reason was the empty treasury, which was devastated by the lost Crimean War(1853-1856) and a huge external debt of 15 million pounds sterling, borrowed at 5% per annum from the Rothschilds. This amount was necessary for the abolition of serfdom in 1861 year, which meant the payment of compensation to the landowners for their losses during the reform.

That is why Alexander II decided to sell Alaska to the United States. On March 30, 1867, an agreement was signed in Washington according to which the Russian colonies on the North American continent became the property of the United States for $ 7.2 million in gold (11 million royal rubles). Russia was losing land territory - more than 1,519,000 sq. km. In terms of area, Alaska is not inferior to the territories of Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova and part of Poland - combined.

Painting by E. Leite: "The signing of an agreement on the sale of Russian possessions in Alaska." Second from left is US Secretary of State Seward, Russian Ambassador Steckl is holding on to the globe.

After the Americans discovered huge reserves of oil and gas in Alaska in 1968, and over 30 years worth of gold alone was mined in the amount of more than 200 million dollars, the story of the surrender of territories began to grow into incredible conjectures. One of which says that “Alaska was not sold, but only leased”. The main interpretation of this assumption is the fact that the two originals of the contract for the sale of territories known to the public, with a facsimile of Emperor Alexander II, are fakes. But the true copies of the agreements, which dealt with the transfer of territories on lease for 99 years, were handed over to the Americans by Lenin V.I., allegedly in exchange for lifting the West’s ban on selling weapons to the Bolsheviks in 1917 But this version does not stand up to the main argument: if this is true, why have no attempts been made to check the existing agreement for authenticity?

Another version of the “claim” in the territory is as follows: “The deal to sell Alaska should be declared invalid, because the ship that carried the gold for payment sank. No money, no deal." The Russian ambassador, who signed the sale agreement, Eduard Stekl, received a check from the Americans for the indicated amount, which he transferred to a London bank. From there, it was planned to transport gold bars by sea to St. Petersburg. However, the ship "Orkney" with a valuable cargo never reached Russia, it sank on the way to St. Petersburg. Whether there was gold on board is unknown. The insurance company responsible for the cargo has filed for bankruptcy. The counterbalance to the stated claim is the documents of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Empire, located in the State Historical Archive of the Russian Federation, in which historians managed to find data on the receipt of 11,362,481 rubles into the treasury. 94 kop. from the United States for the cession of Russian possessions in North America.

$7.2 million check presented to pay for the purchase of Alaska. The amount of the check is equivalent to 119 million US dollars in our time.

You can argue on this issue indefinitely, but the facts speak for themselves!