Russian geographic expedition led by M.S. Fedorova in 1732 discovered Alaska, which became the possession of the Russian Empire in North America. However, today these territories do not belong to Russia.
Instruction manual
1
During the time of the Russian Empire, Alaska was a territory of 1.5 million square kilometers in the east bordering Canada, which was under the protectorate of the British Empire. This territory was sparsely populated and sparsely populated. Ethnic composition was represented by Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and 2500 Russians.
2
The northern lands have long been considered unsuitable for living, and therefore have been developed mainly by private companies without state participation. In 1799, the monopoly Russian-American Company (RAC) was founded, which until the beginning of the 19th century in Alaska was mainly engaged in the production of fur. Revenues from this fishery could not cover the costs of developing and maintaining the territory. In addition, the lack of state support affected security, and the British Empire, with which the Russian Empire was in very unfriendly relations, paid close attention to Alaska.
3
For the first time, the idea of selling Alaska in 1853 was voiced by the governor of Eastern Siberia - Count N.N. Muravyov-Amursky, explaining his position by the fact that throughout the whole of North America there was a rapid development of the railway network that made Alaska more accessible, and the British Empire became more and more persistent in trying to penetrate Alaska. Having concluded that Russia would somehow lose the northern lands, the count came out with a proposal to sell the territories to North America.
4
In the same year, the British fleet made an attempt to land troops in the Peter and Paul-Kamchatsky. The government of North America, fearing the intervention of Britain, came up with a proposal to Russia to conclude a deal (for three years), which would be fictitious, on the sale by the Russian-American company of all its possessions for seven million dollars. The deal was not concluded.
5
The next offer to sell Alaska was initiated by the brother of Alexander II, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, but Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M. Gorchakov proposed postponing the resolution of this issue until the expiration of the term of office of the Russian-American company. Validity terminated in 1862. At this time, America was swept by the Civil War, and the deal did not take place.
6
In 1866, a meeting was held under the leadership of Alexander II on the sale of Alaska, at the same meeting the border of the territory being sold was outlined. The signing of the agreement on the sale of Alaska to the United States of America took place in March 1867.
