There are myths in history that Catherine II allegedly sold Alaska to the Americans and the peninsula was leased for 99 years, only for some reason the USSR did not demand from the United States to return it back. In fact, Alaska ceased to be a part of Russia in 1867.
Instructions
Step 1
Six people knew about the future sale of Alaska: Emperor Alexander II, Foreign Minister Gorchakov, Finance Minister Reitern, Naval Minister Krabbe, Russian envoy to the United States Stekl and Prince Konstantin Romanov. Foreign states learned about the sale of the peninsula two months after the deal. The sale was initiated by Mikhail Reitern. A year before the transfer of Alaska, he wrote a letter to Alexander II about the need for austerity and a three-year loan from foreign countries. The sale of territory on the American continent would save Russia from impending problems in the financial system. Also, the idea of giving Alaska to the Americans, in order to improve relations between the two states, was proposed by the Governor of Eastern Siberia Muravyov-Amursky.
Step 2
Eduard Stekl played a significant role in the sale of Alaska. In 1854, he took up the post of Russia's envoy to the United States. He was a member of the highest circle of American society. Good connections helped him make the deal. To persuade the US Senate to buy the peninsula, Stekl gave bribes to officials. At the same time, he wrote notes to the Russian emperor about the emigration of Mormon Americans to Russian America, which soon the government would face the question: voluntarily give the territory to sectarian Mormons or start armed resistance.
Step 3
Alaska was a real gold mine. American prospectors, despite belonging to the peninsula of Russia, came to Alaska in search of wealth. The Russian government feared that American troops would follow the gold miners into the territory. And the Russian Empire was not ready for war. This was also one of the reasons for the sale of Alaska.
Step 4
The sales agreement was signed on March 30, 1867 in Washington. The deal took place without the approval of the State Council and the Russian Senate. Also, the contract was written in two languages - French and English. There was no official text in Russian. The deal was valued at $ 7.2 million in gold. On October 18, 1867, at 15:30, American and Russian soldiers changed the flag in front of the house of the main ruler of Alaska.
Step 5
The main secret of the sale of Alaska is the mysterious disappearance of money on the way to St. Petersburg. Envoy Stekl received a check for the amount for which part of the mainland was sold. Of these, he distributed $ 144,000 as bribes to senators and transferred the rest to London by bank transfer. With this sum, Stekl bought gold bars in London and took them to St. Petersburg by sea. But the ship with the precious cargo sank into the sea on July 16, 1867. The insurance company declared itself bankrupt and only partially compensated for the damage. And whether the cargo was on the ship or it did not leave England is still unknown.
