History:
Till 1867 Alaska was a part of Russia But gradually the condition of Russia was divided that it had to sell such a large part. After long negotiation between Russia and America, the US bought Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867.
The US President Andrew Johnson had signed the 'Alaska Treaty' on behalf of the USA. After this deal, Russia's expansion in the Pacific part has been ended. Simultaneously America emerged as a great power in Asia-Pacific.
Russia had sold Alaska to the US for a meagre $7.2 million, but now the estimated GDP of Alaska is Estimated to be at around $50 billion. There is no dearth of natural resources in Alaska.
So why did Russia sell Alaska?
For that, we need to understand the Eastern Explanation Plan of Russia which started in the 16th century. Russia was not as big as it seems today, slowly Slowly they did the Eastern Land Expansion from which they reached Alaska and eventually California.
In the 1741 Vitus Bering cross the Bering strait. Vitus Bearing died in December 1741 due to scurvy during the second Kamchatka expedition itself.
Unlike present day, back then Alaska had a fatal climate. Total only 800 Russian citizens inhabited the island and it was also located far off the Russian capital city of St. Petersburg.
In 1872, Russian built a settlement at fort ross at the western Coast of the US. After the Russian department of American exploration failed, Russia became worried about the prospect of Russian settlements as Alaska.
Did all Russia's troubles, the Crimean War (1853-1856) acted like a fire in petrol and broke Russia's cash and economic, For this reason there was no way but to sell Alaska to Russia.
But why was it sold to America, why not to any other country?
Russia, Britain and America were the major power during that war Russia have two option to sold Alaska which was either America or Britain, Due to shared dislike for the British Empire, Russia and the United States were allies in the 1800s. This was one of the reasons why Russia approached the United States with the 'Alaska Deal'.
When American civil war end, Negotiations on Alaska deal started between Russia and the US soon after the US stabilized post Civil War. The US President Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865.
The US Senate approved the deal on April 9, 1867 and thereafter the President Andrew Johnson signed on the 'Alaska Treaty' on May 28, 1867.
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