Yeltsin Alaska. Split mental states

Until now, many consider it one of the most mysterious transactions in Russia. Some believe that this land was sold by Empress Catherine the Second. Others even believe that Alaska was not sold to the United States, but was leased by Decree of this reigning person for ninety-nine years. The deadline expired, but the lands were never returned to the Russians. As if already in time Soviet Union Secretary General Brezhnev did not want to take her back.

But if you remember in what year Alaska was sold to America, it becomes clear that Catherine had nothing to do with this. Emperor Alexander II ruled Russia during this period. And it was he who played the decisive role in history that some attribute to other rulers. This Russian Tsar is accused of practically giving away a huge territory. But how things really stood, how the peculiar territorial triangle of Alaska-Russia-USA took shape, in official history there is only one version, some details of which are still unknown to many.

Geography

Even a schoolchild knows that this peninsula is a cold and harsh land, where arctic and subarctic climate zones reign. Severe frosty winters with knocking winds and snow-covered blizzards are the norm in this region. And this is not surprising: it’s enough to just imagine where Alaska is. The only exception is a small part of the coast Pacific Ocean, where the climate is temperate and quite suitable for human life. Includes the state of Alaska, mainland territory up to the border with Canada. In addition, it includes the Aleutian, Fox, Trinity and Alexander Islands. Also, this peninsula is connected by a narrow strip of land stretching along the Pacific coast to 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 nothing less than “Russian America.” During the second half of the eighteenth century, fur traders became increasingly interested in Alaska. Already in the early sixties, here on the island of Unalaska, the Russians founded a village and, naturally, a port through which trade in harvested fur was to be carried out. In 1784, merchant and explorer Grigory Shelikhov, using his own funds, organized an expedition to these regions, during which he built a settlement on Kodiak Island.

At the end of the century, European sailors came here and even attempted to declare Spanish sovereignty over certain areas of Alaska. However, they did not achieve any results. And today only a few non-locals remind us of them in these parts. geographical names, for example the port of Valdez.

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

The company's activities as a whole had a dual character. On the one hand, it was engaged in predatory fur fishing, but at the same time it contributed to the development of arable farming and cattle breeding in some areas. From the beginning of the eighties, this activity was complicated by the struggle with American and British entrepreneurs who were arming local aborigines in order to fight against the Russians.

And in 1824, Russia signed a number of treaties with the governments of the USA and England. These documents at the state level determined the boundaries of Russian possessions in North America. Less than four and a half decades remained before Alaska became American.

Difficult situation

In 1861, as is known, Russia abolished serfdom. In order to pay compensation to his landowners, as well as to pay the company’s expenses, 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 initiative suggesting the sale, or rather the annexation of Alaska to America, was made by the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia. This happened in 1853. In his opinion, the deal was simply inevitable. But then no one listened to him. And four years later, Grand Duke Constantine - the younger brother of the Sovereign - offered to sell Alexander “something unnecessary”. Most unnecessary thing turned out to be northern unexplored lands that the Russians, in fact, had not developed.

The very fact of alienation, as well as the history of Russia’s sale of Alaska, is perceived by many today in their own way. But the reasons at that time were more than obvious: this huge territory never brought the Russians much income, and sea otters, fur seals and other owners of the most valuable furs, which at that time were in demand on the world market, were mostly killed by industrialists. In general, the colony mainly survived only due to large supplies of ice to the cities of California. There was no money then to maintain military garrisons and officials working here in this icy territory in order to develop the colossal lands. Russia, having only recently survived the Crimean War, experienced financial difficulties after the defeat.

Background

Naturally, the history of the transfer of Alaska to America has its own predecessor; 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 in significant income through the fur trade, but by the sixties of the same century it became clear that future expenses would be significantly greater than the potential profit. You will have to constantly spend money not only on the banal maintenance of this territory, but also on its protection, and if you remember where Alaska is located on the map, you can imagine how much all this would cost the bankrupt Russian empire.

Prerequisites

The official history of Russia's sale of Alaska states that the proposal for a deal came from the famous Russian diplomat Eduard Stekl. And the negotiations began precisely at the time when Great Britain began to make its claims to this territory.

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

The question of in what year the Russians sold Alaska to America is causing considerable controversy today. Some call the year 1866, others - 1867. It must be said that both of these dates are true.

Secret negotiations

On December 16, 1866, on a cloudy, gloomy winter day, Emperor Alexander II convened a meeting. It was attended by his brother Prince Konstantin, the ministers of the naval and financial departments, as well as Baron Eduard Stekl, the Russian ambassador in Washington. It must be said that the idea of ​​selling by the participants was approved and supported. Actually, from that moment the annexation of Alaska to the United States began. At first they waited for the end of the period of privileges, then - the civil war in the United States. But nevertheless, on March 18, 1867, Johnson, after much deliberation, finally signed the Decree transferring special powers to William Seward. At the proposal of the Minister of Finance, the minimum threshold price for Alaska was established: five million rubles. A week later, the Russian emperor, having confirmed the borders of his state, sent Stekl to America with an official appeal to Secretary of State Seward. After this, negotiations literally immediately began, during which it was possible to agree on an agreement on the purchase of Alaska from Russian state for seven million dollars.

USA and Tsarist Russia

By the beginning of the sale process, Russia's relations with America had reached their climax. Back in the years Crimean War The United States has repeatedly emphasized that if the boundaries of the conflict expand, they will not take an anti-Russian position. The intention to sell Alaska was kept in deep secret. Surprisingly, given the already sufficient level of foreign intelligence at that time, information did not leak to third countries. The London newspaper The Times wrote with great concern about the mysterious mutual sympathy rising between the United States and Russia. Moreover, the money paid for these northern lands paid off in a short time, and there is no need to talk about the strategic advantage of this deal, just imagine where Alaska is located on the map.

Great Britain's dissatisfaction was justified: the treaty of 1867 not only made these two states closest neighbors, but also gave the Americans the opportunity to surround English possessions in the north. The statement of the American General Welbridge at a dinner party in honor of the Russian delegation also added fuel to the fire. Its meaning was as follows: there are two significant hemispheres on the planet, western and eastern, and one should be personified by the United States, and the second by Russia. Naturally, this was only a subtle diplomatic play on words, but the fact remains: the Russians seriously supported the Americans in their rise.

Direct transfer

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

The US Senate, although it doubted the feasibility of such a purchase, most of its members supported the deal.

On October 18, 1867, Alaska was officially transferred to the Americans. On the Russian side, the protocol on the transfer of this territory was signed by A. A. Peschurov, a special government commissioner, captain of the second rank. Interestingly, this day was introduced and Therefore, the residents 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 of what year Alaska was sold to America is clear, then the same cannot be said about the day the agreement was signed.

Mystic

On October 18, 1867, at half past three in the afternoon, the flag was changed on the flagpole located in front of the house of the ruler of Alaska. Russian and American troops lined up, and at a signal, one non-commissioned officer on each side began to lower the banner that had been raised during the Russian-American campaign. The ceremony itself took place in an atmosphere of great solemnity, however, until the flag, tangled at the very top in the ropes, caused the painter to break.

At the order, several sailors rushed to climb up to try to untangle the fabric remaining from the banner, which hung in tatters on the mast. However, no one thought to shout from below to the sailor who was the first to reach him, so that he would not throw the banner down, but would get down with him. And when he dropped it from above, the flag fell on Russian bayonets. To mystics, this incident would have seemed like a sign, but at that moment it did not occur 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 not true.

Glass and its mission

The diplomat Steckl played a significant role in the sale of Alaska. Since 1850, he was charge d'affaires of the Russian embassy in the United States, and from 1854 he moved to the position of Russian envoy. Glass's wife was American, so he was fairly integrated into the highest circles of American society. Such extensive connections helped him and facilitated the implementation of the deal. The Russian diplomat actively lobbied for the interests of the Russian emperor. In order to persuade the Senate to make a decision on the purchase of Alaska, Steckl paid bribes, using all his connections. Alexander II awarded him a reward of twenty-five thousand dollars, as well as a lifelong pension of six thousand rubles.

Eduard Andreevich immediately after the sale of Alaska came to St. Petersburg for a short time, but soon left for Paris. Until the end of his life, this diplomat avoided Russian society, however, it also avoided him. After the Alaska story, Glass retained its bad reputation. And there were reasons for this.

Where's the money?

Seven million thirty-five thousand dollars - that’s exactly what was left of the originally agreed upon 7.2 million. Eduard Stekl, having received the check, kept the reward for himself, distributed almost one and a half hundred thousand as bribes to the senators who voted for ratification, and transferred the remaining money by bank transfer to London, from where the gold bars purchased for the entire amount traveled to St. Petersburg by sea. Some of the payment was also lost when converted into pounds and gold. But it wasn't last loss Russia.

The main historical question is not in what year Alaska was sold to America, but where the proceeds from this transaction went.

The bark Orkney, on board which carried the cargo so long-awaited for the Russian state, sank on July 16, 1868, already approaching St. Petersburg. It is still unknown whether there was gold on it, or whether it never left Foggy Albion. Moreover, Insurance Company declared herself completely bankrupt, and therefore the damage to the Russians was only partially compensated. The Rothschilds failed to pay off the debt, but a huge piece of land royal Russia nevertheless lost it.

Errors and conjectures

The history of Russia's sale of Alaska still gives rise to all sorts of judgments and speculations. Since the negotiations were conducted in the strictest confidence, the signing of the agreement was hidden for a long time. And only a year later the convention was published in French in the Diplomatic Yearbook. Such secrecy gave rise to speculation, first of all, that Alaska was leased to the United States for a period of ninety-nine years, and after this period it would be returned to Russia again. This erroneous version became so tenacious that when this period expired, in the middle of the last century, demands began to be heard for its transfer back. But, unfortunately, this was only a delusion. Alaska was not leased, but was sold forever.

Data

Interestingly, the United States has been actively expanding its territories over the past two centuries. Few people know that back in 1803, America bought Louisiana from France for fifteen million dollars, and a little later, for an amount three times less, it successfully acquired Florida from Spain. And ten years later, in 1818, during the process of dividing the “inheritance,” most of the territory was transferred to the United States from Mexico.

No less remarkable is the fact that Alaska officially became another state only in 1959, and not at all in 1867, when it was sold.

In the 8th century, before Alaska passed to America, the peninsula was part of Russia. The land was discovered in 1732, but only in the 80s did the first Russians begin to settle in the new place, which was a large peninsula with many separate islands washed by the Pacific and Arctic oceans.

For Russia, the peninsula turned out to be a real gold mine. Deposits of gold and precious metals were discovered here. And fur-bearing animals, such as sea otters, minks, and foxes, brought good income. Fur's price was equal to that of precious metals. In addition, the Russian government signed a decree allowing foreign citizens to conduct entrepreneurial activity on Russian soil for a period of 20 years.

The capital of Alaska within Russia at that time was called Novoarkhengelsk. It was a small town with wooden and stone buildings, shops and churches. In the center of the settlement stood the ruler's house, there was a theater, a nautical school, hospitals, industrial enterprises. The city grew very quickly and as a result became the central port of the west coast.

After few years active life In Alaska, fur production declined sharply, and foreigners engaged in the oil and gold mining business provided great competition to Russian industrialists. At the end of the 30s, the Russian government considered Alaska an unprofitable region and refused to invest money in its development.

Who sold Alaska to the USA?

The sale of the peninsula has become overgrown with a considerable number of myths. For a long time, the question of who sold Alaska to the United States remained open. In the history of Russia, there is a misconception that the mainland was sold to the Americans by Catherine II. There is also a version about leasing Alaska for 99 years, after which Russia never claimed rights to the peninsula. But these facts do not have scientific confirmation, since at the time of the sale of the territory more than 100 years had passed since the death of Catherine II.

The Russian side was the first to talk about selling Alaska during the reign of Alexander II.

There were enough reasons to get rid of the peninsula:

1. Stream of poachers destroyed the main income of the state, which came from the sale of furs.
2. A lack of money in the treasury after the defeat in the Crimean War hampered the economic rise of the Russian state, and the development of new lands in Alaska was not possible, since the costs of its maintenance and research exceeded income.
3. General N.N. Muravyov-Amursky back in 1853 proposed transferring the peninsula to the United States with the aim of strengthening its position on the Pacific coast. The vast territory of the peninsula and the gold found in its depths attracted the attention of Russia’s main enemy, England. The Emperor understood that Russian army unable to resist a foreign state. If Alaska is captured by England, then Russia will be left with nothing. By selling the mainland to the United States, Russia will benefit and strengthen relations with the Americans.

In 1866, a representative Russian government E. Steckl came to Washington for secret negotiations on the transfer of northern lands to the United States.

How much did they sell Alaska to America for?

On March 30, 1867, the purchase and sale agreement for the transfer of Alaska to the United States was signed by both parties. The transaction price was more than $7 million in gold. This was a lot of money for Russia, as well as for America. But based on the huge area (1,519,000 km2), the deal turned out to be very profitable for the United States: 1 square kilometer of land was valued at $4.73.

Thus, Alaska was sold, not leased. This is confirmed by an agreement with the exact amount, drawn up in English and French, since they were recognized as diplomatic at that time. The agreement stated that the territory of the mainland and the coastline extending 10 miles to the south became the property of the United States. Everything was transmitted with the earth real estate, archives and historical documents. Surprisingly, there is no agreement in Russian. It is known that Russia received a check for the specified amount, but no one still knows whether it was cashed.

Many Russians did not even know about the existence of northern lands in the state, so information about how much Alaska was sold to America is for a long time remained a secret. 2 months after the agreement, the information was published on the back pages of newspapers. Due to illiteracy, people did not attach much importance to this fact. It is known that after Alaska passed to America, the peninsula came into force Gregorian calendar.

When did Alaska become an American state?

Alaska is the largest and richest natural resources 49th US state. On its territory there are a large number of volcanoes, lakes and rivers.

For 30 years after the purchase, Alaska was not a state due to economic weakness, sparse population, and remoteness. Thanks to World War II, the importance of the peninsula increased. Not long before Alaska became American state, a huge amount of oil and minerals were discovered in its depths. In 1959, the peninsula received statehood.

Since 1968, Alaska has been in full swing:

• development of mineral resources;
• extraction of crude oil, natural gas, gold, copper, iron, coal;
• fishing;
• rearing reindeer;
• logging;
• military air bases were built.

In the 1970s, an oil pipeline was built in Alaska, which can be compared in scale to pipelines in the Arabian Peninsula and Western Siberia.

Despite huge developments, the state's population density is the lowest: about 800 people per square meter. Blame it all - harsh climate peninsula with big amount swamps and permafrost.

After Alaska passed to America, the capital of the peninsula was renamed from Novo-Arkhangelsk to Sitka, which existed until 1906. Currently, the city of Juneau has the status of capital. Sitka is a small provincial town with a population of 9 thousand people, which has retained all historical monuments about the Russian past.

On October 18, 1867, the frigate Osipi, carrying commissioners of the United States and the Russian Empire, entered the harbor of Novoarkhangelsk (today the American city of Sitka). At 12:00 the official handover of Russian America took place, the imperial flag was lowered and the American flag was raised. So Alaska ceased to be Russian territory.

The idea of ​​Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky

The first person to talk about selling Alaska was Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky, Governor General of Eastern Siberia. Back in 1853, he provided Nicholas I with a note, in which he outlined his views regarding strengthening positions on Far East and building close relationships with the United States. Regarding Alaska, Muravyov-Amursky had the following opinion: the area is huge - 1.5 million square kilometers, and there are so few of the emperor’s subjects on it that they will not even be able to protect these lands.

Difficulty in managing territories

The actual discovery of Alaska by Russian navigators Fedorov and Gvozdev occurred in 1732. Alaska was officially discovered in 1841 by Captain Chirikov, who recorded the discovery of a new land. The new territory was developed by Russian merchants, who founded the Russian-American Company (RAC) there. They actively bought furs from local Eskimos, Aleuts and Indians, sold ice to America, and traded tea and Chinese fabrics. Russian settlements were also created, where merchant ships moored during the winter months.

For 125 years, the vast territory of Alaska has not been developed. Settlements were rare and were located only along the coast; in order to avoid clashes with Indians, it was forbidden to penetrate deep into the continent. In 1867, only 812 people lived in Alaska, employees of the Russian-American Company.

The Russian Empire believed that Alaska was a subsidized region that required investment and did not generate income for which it could continue to be developed. It was believed that Russian people would not want to travel so far to explore the “ice desert.”

Russia leased America for 99 years

A persistent myth regarding the sale of Alaska is that it was not sold, but leased for 99 years. But according to the treaty of 1867, Alaska was definitely sold for $7 million 200 and is the property of the United States. Why was this myth born? Perhaps it appeared in connection with the declaration of the Soviet government of 1917. According to this declaration, the Soviet government does not recognize agreements concluded by Tsarist Russia.

The Romanovs' debt to the Rothschilds

There is another version why Alexander II agreed to the sale of Alaska. To abolish serfdom in 1861, the government borrowed £15 million, at 5% interest, from the Rothschilds to compensate the landlords for their losses. But the amount for which Alaska was sold would still not be enough to cover the debt. At that time, the British pound was worth $4.87, and the loan amount, converted into dollars, was $73 million. Alaska was sold for $7.2 million, less than a tenth of the debt.

Personal initiative of Konstantin Nikolaevich

The initiator of the Russian-American deal - Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. He supervised the work to discredit the RAC in order to convince his brother to agree to the deal. He considered Alaska to be “extra territory,” because if a gold deposit was discovered, it would attract the attention of the British - and there was no one to defend the territory. According to Konstantin Nikolaevich, if England captures Alaska, then the Russian Empire will lose its territory and receive nothing. And when selling, it will be possible to earn money, save reputation and strengthen friendly relations with the United States.

Alexander II feared that England would seize Alaska

One of the main reasons for the sale of Alaska was its vulnerability as a colony. The Aleuts collaborated with Russian settlers and adopted the Russian way of life. But the Indian tribes did not submit, did not recognize the dominance of the Russians and lived with them in a state of “ cold war" The British entered Alaska and sold weapons to the Indians and incited rebellion. The British founded a trading post in 1847 in a part remote from the coast. The colony could not do anything about it, just like with the whaling ships different countries on the coast of Alaska. Alexander II feared that after the Crimean War, England might attack the territory of Alaska, and it would be impossible to defend the territory. If Alaska had not been sold, a few years later it would have become part of the Canadian Confederation, which was established in the summer of 1867.

Selling Alaska as inevitable

Back in the early 19th century, Secretary of State John Adams stated: “Since we became an independent people, it has been as much a law of nature that this has become our claim, as that the Mississippi flows into the sea. Spain has possessions of south, and England north of our borders, it would be incredible if centuries passed without them being annexed by us." Regarding the Russian colonies in Alaska, John Adams adhered to exactly the same point of view, believing that in order to reconquer this part of the American continent, the Russians would have patience and time as their best weapons.

In the USA, society was divided into two camps - some believed that buying “a box of ice, a circus and bears” was a huge mistake, and this was the majority. Secretary of State William Seward was in favor, and lobbied Congress with all his might for his decision. This purchase was called “Seward’s stupidity”, and Alaska was called a “squeezed orange” that would bring nothing but losses. Horace Greeley, the publicist, asked: “Why should we invest in the kingdom of ice, rocks and snow?”

Charles Sumner played a big role in pushing the deal forward. He was one of Lincoln's associates, enjoyed authority, and therefore decided the fate of more than one important bill. He studied in detail in the Library of Congress everything he found regarding Alaska. Sumner was impressed by the wealth of the region and came to the conclusion that the purchase was necessary! His speech had the desired effect: 37 people voted “for”, only 2 “against”. Later, America recouped its expenses and made huge profits.

Alaska was discovered for themselves and for Russia by Russian Cossacks and merchants back in the time of Peter the Great. This discovery was a continuation of the conquest of Siberia and the development of eastern lands. Russian pioneers such as Grigory Shelikhov. Alexander Baranov and their associates, with a firm hand, subjugated the sea coast of the region.

The places were rich in fur and this attracted business people. In 1799, the Russian-American Company was created, which governed Alaska on behalf of Russia for 68 years. Settlements were built and connections with the local population were established. The aborigines accepted Orthodoxy and Russian citizenship. It seemed that everything was heading towards Alaska becoming firmly part of the Russian Empire.

But fate decreed otherwise. In 1853-56, Russia had to go through the extremely difficult and unsuccessful Crimean War. Moreover, the aggressors, England and France, tested Russia’s strength along the entire border. The British even tried to capture Kamchatka. Naturally, relations between Russia and Britain deteriorated sharply. Russia could wait for the next blow precisely in Alaska, where Russian possessions bordered on English Canada. Russia will adequately defend its possessions, according to various reasons, I could not. And the Russian government, with the consent of Emperor Alexander II, made a difficult decision to sell the territory to the then friendly United States.

After lengthy negotiations, on March 30, 1867, an agreement on the sale of Alaska was signed in Washington. As a result of the deal, Russia received 7.2 million dollars in gold and the security of its eastern borders. Historians, politicians and ordinary Russian citizens are still arguing to this day whether this sale was justified.

Who Really Gave Alaska to America?

Alaska once belonged to the Russian Empire. But due to certain circumstances, Russia was forced to sell the territory of Alaska to America. It is well known that in 1867, on October 18, Alaska was officially given to the United States for seven million US dollars. The protocol on the transfer of land to American ownership was signed by Russian Commissioner Peschurov on board American ship"Ossipee." Immediately on this day, the Gregorian calendar was introduced, which synchronized time with the Western Territory of the United States. That's why people in Alaska went to bed on October 5th and woke up immediately on October 18th. After which American troops were brought into possession, who evicted the local residents and resettled their own citizens.

Why Alaska was given to the USA

This was not the first time that the idea of ​​selling Alaska arose, but it became urgently necessary during the Crimean War. During this period, Russia's enemy Britain demanded its rights to own Alaska. The United States was also concerned that Great Britain could seize the northern continent of America in order to advance to the states. The government of the Russian Empire considered it unprofitable to keep its possessions in Alaska. Therefore, Emperor Nicholas II decided to sell Alaska to the US government. Acting person Russian diplomat Eduard Stekl was appointed directly responsible for negotiations on the sale of Alaska.

On March 30, 1867, an agreement was signed between Russia and America on the sale of Alaska. The value of the transaction was about 7.2 million dollars in gold, which is approximately 108 million dollars in gold today. However, the treaty had to be approved by the US Senate. At first, many senators had doubts about spending so much money on acquiring an unknown piece of land, given that the country had recently ended a difficult Civil War. But still, the agreement was adopted on May 3. And a couple of months later Alaska was transferred to America.

Thus, it turns out that Nicholas II is the one who officially gave Alaska to America. Although the idea of ​​selling was not his personal initiative, but other people’s.

On October 1, 1867, the formal transfer of Alaska to the United States from the Russian Empire took place. Oddly enough, the majority of our compatriots believe that the deal to sell Alaska was carried out by Catherine II.

Also made its contribution to consolidating this myth in the consciousness of our citizens popular group“Lube”, who claimed in one of her songs that Catherine was wrong. In fact, neither Peter I, nor Catherine II, nor, especially, Nikita Khrushchev have anything to do with the sale of Alaska to our sworn friends the Americans.

This is the merit of the Tsar-Liberator Alexander II. On March 29, 1867, the Tsarist Ambassador Baron Eduard Andreevich Stekl and US Secretary of State William Seward signed an agreement to sell Alaska to America for $7 million 200 thousand. It would seem that the cunning Americans had deceived us. The amount for a territory two and a half times larger than the territory of Ukraine does not seem large at all. But it's not that simple.

In those days, the dollar had a slightly different real value, and $7 million 200 thousand of the century before last, in terms of today’s money, equals $8 billion 355 million. A fairly common version among the people is that Alaska was not sold, but leased for 100 years. So it's time to demand it back. Gentlemen, sad as it may be, the train has already left, and it is pointless to demand Alaska back. It was sold permanently, and not leased, as confirmed by the relevant documents.

140 years ago, on March 18, 1867, Russia concluded the largest contract in its history. On this day, the North American United States purchased goods from us measuring 1.5 million square kilometers for 7.2 million dollars. The product was called Alaska. A square kilometer of his homeland thus cost Uncle Sam 20 cents. Now that deal is considered in patriotic circles almost a symbol of national shame. But was it really possible to hold on to Russian America?

What’s interesting: Alaska has not been with us for 140 years, but the myths associated with it are still alive. The most popular of them is myth 1: Alaska was sold by Catherine II. It would seem that to expose him it would be enough to compare the years of Catherine’s reign with the date of the sale of Alaska, but come on. Some Russian misogynist patriots still like to talk over a glass of wine about what Russia has lost through women’s stupidity. In fact, Catherine the Great’s participation in the fate of Alaska was limited to a decree of 1769 abolishing duties on trade with the Aleuts.

No less persistent myth 2: Alaska was not sold, but leased for 99 years. He speaks mainly of ignorance of the sources: in the first article of the document with the long title Agreement regarding the cession of Russian Property in North America between His Majesty the Emperor of All Russia and the United States of America it is said: His Majesty the Emperor of All Russia agrees to cede to the United States, in accordance with this agreement, immediately upon ratification, all the territory and dominion now possessed by His Imperial Majesty on the American continent and the adjacent islands .

Myth 3 has financial and conspiracy origins and was most likely born in the 60s years XIX century: American money did not reach Russia. They were converted into gold and loaded onto a ship, which sank during a storm somewhere in the Baltic. They even name the ship - the English barque Orkney. This reliable information has been passed on from mouth to mouth for the second hundred years; it has even been included in serious books. However, no one has yet bothered to clarify the coordinates of this shipwreck and raise American gold from the bottom of the shallow Baltic Sea. Why? Probably no one needs 7 million dollars. In addition, the idea of ​​transporting gold by steamship was not very good even in those days. Why carry cash across the ocean if in St. Petersburg alone there are branches of fifty foreign, including American, banks?

The Alaska sale deal is unique in that it was concluded within a very small circle. Only six people knew about the proposed sale: Alexander II, Konstantin Romanov, Alexander Gorchakov, Mikhail Reitern, Nikolai Krabbe and Edaurd Stekl. The fact that Alaska was sold to America became known only two months after the transaction was completed. Finance Minister Reuters is traditionally considered its initiator.

A year before the transfer of Alaska, he sent a special note to Alexander II, in which he pointed out the need for strict savings 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 annually paid subsidies to the Russian-American Company; the sale of Alaska saved Russia from these expenses. RAC did not receive a penny from the sale of Alaska.

Even before the historical note by 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 to strengthen its position on the Asian Pacific coast, and to be friends with America against the British.

Sources: znayuvse.ru, socialskydivelab.com, ufastation.net, otvet.mail.ru, russian7.ru

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Who actually legally owns Alaska? Is it true that Russia never received money for its sale? It's time to find out about this, because today marks 150 years since Russian Alaska became American in 1867.

In honor of this event, the annual Alaska Day is celebrated in the United States on October 18. This whole long-standing story of the sale of Alaska has become overgrown with an incredible number of legends. So how did this actually happen?

How Russia acquired Alaska

On October 22, 1784, an expedition led by the Irkutsk merchant Grigory Shelikhov founded the first permanent settlement on Kodiak Island off the coast of Alaska. In 1795, colonization of mainland Alaska began. Four years later, the future capital of Russian America, Sitka, was founded. 200 Russians and 1000 Aleuts lived there.

By decree of Paul I, the Russian-American Company received the authority to manage Alaska, represent and protect the interests of Russia. It was assigned a flag and allowed to have armed forces and ships. She had monopoly rights for a period of 20 years for fur extraction, trade, and the discovery of new lands. In 1824, Russia and Britain entered into an agreement that established the border between Russian America and Canada.

Map of the territories of Northwestern America transferred by the Russian Empire to the North American United States in 1867

Sold? Rented?

The history of the sale of Alaska is surrounded by an incredible number of myths. There is even a version that it was sold by Catherine the Great, who by that time had already completed her career 70 years ago. earthly path. So this fairy tale can only be explained by popularity Lube group and her song “Don't Be a Fool, America,” which contains the line “Catherine, you were wrong!”

According to another legend, Russia did not sell Alaska at all, but leased it to America for 99 years, and then either forgot or was unable to demand it back. Perhaps some of our compatriots do not want to come to terms with this, but they will have to. Alas, Alaska was indeed sold. An agreement on the sale of Russian possessions in America with a total area of ​​580,107 square kilometers was concluded on March 18, 1867. It was signed in Washington by US Secretary of State William Seward and Russian envoy Baron Eduard Stekl.

The final transfer of Alaska to the United States took place on October 18 of that year. Was ceremonially lowered over Fort Sitka Russian flag and the American one was raised.

The instrument of ratification, signed by Emperor Alexander II and kept in National Directorate archives and documentation of the United States. The first page contains the full title of Alexander II

Gold mine or unprofitable project

Historians also debate a lot about whether the sale of Alaska was justified. After all, this is simply a storehouse of marine resources and minerals! Geologist Vladimir Obruchev claimed that in the period before the Russian Revolution alone, the Americans mined $200 million worth of precious metal there.

However, this can only be assessed from the current perspective. And then...

Large deposits of gold had not yet been discovered, and the main income came from the extraction of furs, especially sea otter fur, which was highly valued. Unfortunately, by the time Alaska was sold, the animals were practically exterminated, and the territory began to generate losses.

The region developed very slowly; the vast snow-covered expanses could not be protected and developed in the foreseeable future. After all, the Russian population of Alaska is the most better times did not reach a thousand people.

Little of, fighting in the Far East during the Crimean War showed the absolute insecurity of the eastern lands of the Russian Empire and especially Alaska. Fears arose that Russia's main geopolitical adversary, Britain, would simply seize these lands.

“Creeping colonization” also took place: British smugglers began to settle on the territory of Russian America in the early 1860s. Russian Ambassador in Washington, he informed his homeland about the impending emigration of representatives of the Mormon religious sect from the United States to Russian America... Therefore, in order not to lose the territory in vain, it was decided to sell it. Russia simply did not have the resources to defend its overseas possessions at a time when the vast Siberia also required development.

A check for US$7.2 million presented to pay for the purchase of Alaska. The check amount is approximately equivalent to 2014 US$119 million

Where did the money go?

The most fantastic thing is the story of the disappearance of money paid to Russia for Alaska. According to the most popular version, which exists on the Internet, Russia did not receive gold from America because it sank along with the ship carrying it during a storm.

So, the territory of Alaska with an area of ​​1 million 519 thousand square meters. km was sold for $7.2 million in gold. The Russian Ambassador to the United States, Eduard Stekl, received a check for this amount. For the transaction, he received a reward of $25,000. He allegedly distributed 144 thousand as bribes to senators who voted for ratification of the treaty. After all, not everyone in the United States considered the purchase of Alaska profitable business. There were many opponents of this idea. However, the story about bribes has not been officially confirmed.

The common version is that the rest of the money was sent to London by bank transfer. There, gold bars were purchased for this amount. But the most important thing is that the barque Orkney, which allegedly carried these ingots from Russia, sank on July 16, 1868 on the approach to St. Petersburg. No gold was found during the search operation.

However, this detailed and brilliant story also have to be recognized as a legend. The State Historical Archive of the Russian Federation contains documents from which it follows that the money was placed in European banks and included in the railway construction fund. This is what they say: “In total, 12,868,724 rubles 50 kopecks were designated for transfer from the US Treasury.” Part of the funds was spent on the Russian-American company. She received 1,423,504 rubles 69 kopecks. What follows is a detailed account of where this money went: for the transportation of employees and payment of part of their salaries, for the debts of the Orthodox and Lutheran churches, part of the money was turned into customs income.

What about the rest of the money? And here’s what: “By March 1871, 10,972,238 rubles 4 kopecks were spent on the purchase of accessories for the Kursk-Kyiv, Ryazan-Kozlov and Moscow-Ryazan railways. The balance is 390,243 rubles 90 kopecks. received in cash to the State Treasury of Russia."

So the bright and widely circulated story about the sunken barque with gold bars is just a historical fiction. But what a great idea!

Signing of the agreement for the sale of Alaska on March 30, 1867. From left to right: Robert S. Chu, William G. Seward, William Hunter, Vladimir Bodisko, Edward Stekl, Charles Sumner, Frederick Seward.