In the 18th century, the Russian Empire expanded beyond Siberia. In 1741, Russian explorer Vitus Bering first arrived in Alaska, initiating the fur trade. Russian merchants came for seals, sea otters, and other animals. Sitka became the capital, but Alaska was distant from Russia. Whenever a crisis arose, it took months for aid to arrive. During the Crimean War in the 1850s, the British Navy attacked Russian settlements, which led Russia to understand the challenges in managing such a distant territory. Facing increasing expenses and declining business, Russia’s Tsar Alexander II was in a dilemma. There were concerns about the potential loss of the area to Britain in case of war. Russia started discussions with the United States. U.S. Secretary of State William Seward believed Alaska could become a gateway to Asia for America. After an all-night deal on March 30, 1867, Russia sold this 1.57 million square kilometer territory to America for just $7.2 million! In other words, Russia received only 2 cents per acre of land at that time! In America, this deal was ridiculed as “Seward’s Folly”. People thought America had made a foolish purchase of icy land.
From Russian Territory to US State: The Strategic Importance of Alaska
By The Chhattisgarh1 Min Read