A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement: Russia and the Alaska Purchase

The sources examine the reasoning behind Russia's decision to sell Alaska to the United States in 1867, highlighting the mutually beneficial aspects of the agreement for both nations.

• Russia, facing significant challenges and recognizing the potential for a strong alliance with America, saw the sale as a strategic move.
• The sources emphasize that influential figures in Russia, including Czar Alexander II and Ambassador Eduard de Stoeckl, understood the limitations imposed by British global dominance and saw America as a valuable partner in counterbalancing this influence.
• The sources point out that Russia was aware of America's growing power and its potential to eventually annex Alaska.
• The Crimean War had left Russia weakened, and the prospect of defending Alaska against potential British aggression presented an additional burden.

The sale of Alaska, therefore, served several strategic purposes for Russia:

• It removed a vulnerable territory from their control.
• It provided a financial boost.
• It fostered closer ties with the United States, a rising power capable of challenging British hegemony.

The sources highlight the shared vision of key figures in both Russia and the United States, who saw the transcontinental railroad as a means to connect the East and West and bring about greater economic and geopolitical integration.

• Notably, William Gilpin, a staunch advocate of the transcontinental railroad, believed that developing Alaska and connecting it to this network would bring prosperity to the region and strengthen America's position on the world stage.

The sources argue that the sale of Alaska should be seen not as a haphazard transaction, but rather as a carefully considered decision driven by a desire to strengthen ties with America and counter British influence on the global stage.

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