The lust for new lands that brought Russia to Alaska and eventually California began in the 16th century, when the country was a fraction of its current size. That began to change in , when Russia overran a Siberian territory known as the Khanate of Sibir, which was controlled by a grandson of Genghis Khan.
This key victory opened up Siberia, and within 60 years the Russians were at the Pacific. The Siberian city of Okhotsk became the staging point for two explorations he ordered.
And in , Vitus Bering successfully crossed the strait that bears his name and sighted Mt. Saint Elias, near what is now the village of Yakutat, Alaska. The surviving crew fixed the ship, stocked it full of hundreds of the sea otters, foxes and fur seals that were abundant there and returned to Siberia, impressing Russian fur hunters with their valuable cargo.
This prompted something akin to the Klondike gold rush years later. Russians in Alaska — who numbered no more than at their peak — faced the reality of being half a globe away from St. Petersburg, then the capital of the empire, making communications a key problem. Also, Alaska was too far north to allow for significant agriculture and therefore unfavorable as a place to send large numbers of settlers. They sent ships to what is now California, established trade relations with the Spaniards there and eventually set up their own settlement at Fort Ross in Not long after, the Russians began to seriously question whether they could continue their Alaskan colony as well.
For starters, the colony was no longer profitable after the sea otter population was decimated. Then there was the fact that Alaska was difficult to defend and Russia was short on cash due to the costs of the war in Crimea. In the s, the United States had expanded its interests to Oregon, annexed Texas, fought a war with Mexico and acquired California.
Afterward, Secretary of State Seward wrote in March Almost 20 years after expressing his thoughts about expansion into the Arctic, Seward accomplished his goal. In Alaska, the Americans foresaw a potential for gold, fur and fisheries, as well as more trade with China and Japan. The Americans worried that England might try to establish a presence in the territory, and the acquisition of Alaska — it was believed — would help the U.
Petersburg, however, lacked the financial resources to support major settlements or a military presence along the Pacific coast of North America and permanent Russian settlers in Alaska never numbered more than four hundred. Defeat in the Crimean War further reduced Russian interest in this region.
The looming U. The Senate approved the treaty of purchase on April 9; President Andrew Johnson signed the treaty on May 28, and Alaska was formally transferred to the United States on October 18, For three decades after its purchase the United States paid little attention to Alaska, which was governed under military, naval, or Treasury rule or, at times, no visible rule at all. The president had just finished addressing a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel and was walking with his entourage to his Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox.
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