Alaska Purchase
The Purchase of Alaska occurred in 1871, and was a treaty signed between the Russian Empire under Tsar Constantine I and the Republic of Oregon.
Purpose
The Russian Tsar Constantine I saw little benefit in keeping its colonies in North America as it yeilded little profits. Many of the settlements in the region were ran predominently by citizens of America, Canada, or Oregon. Following the defeat of Russia in the Austro-Prussian War, Constanine had steadily been losing faith in the Russian military's ability to wage war and defend any oversees colonies. As such, Constantine offered up the territory to auction among the powers at be. However, Constantine notably included only those in North America, as he did not wish to embolden the European colonial powers.
America initially offered to purchase the area for a total of 2 cents an acre, or $7.2 million. However, Oregon felt they would be encompassed by American hegemony, and thus more likely to see calls for total annexation of the Republic. As a result, the Oregonian government increased their bid to a total of $11.5 million, or roughly 3.2 cents an acre.
Document Structure
Clauses
The treaty stipulated the transfer of control of Russian America to the Republic of Oregon. Oregon quickly established trading ports along the coast in order to facilitate the sale of beaver pelts.
Historical Details
Public Reaction
The public reaction to the sale was mixed. Many Oregonians felt the purchase was an unnescessary expense for very little gain. In America, there was outrage from expansionists, particularly among the Whig Party who had long questioned Oregon's legitimacy.
Legacy
Gold was eventually discovered in Alaska in 1896, ushering in a massive rush to the area. the finding led to the construction of the Alaskan railway, and ultimately boosted the infrastructure of Oregon. However, a lot of these prospectors were Canadian and American citizens, many of who would sned their gold and money back to their homelands. Oregon attempted to suppress this practice, angering many politicians in the American Congress.
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