There were three reasons for this:

• Geographic distance: There was a distance of thousands of kilometers between Russia and Alaska. According to the technology of that time, it was expensive and difficult for Russia to control such a distant area.
• Decline of the fur trade: Sea otters were hunted so rapidly that their numbers began to decline. The fur trade, which was Russia’s main source of income, began to collapse.
• Political Tension: Between 1853 and 1856, Russia fought the Crimean War. This war shook the economic condition of Russia. The treasury became empty. The army became weak and Russia felt that now it would have to get rid of such areas which were difficult to use.

Now let’s move ahead in the story. Britain also had its eye on Alaska. Britain was ruling Canada at that time and if Russia had weakened, Britain could have captured Alaska. Russia thought – ‘It is better to sell this area than to let it fall into the hands of the enemy.’ But sell it to whom? Selling Great Britain was like making our enemy stronger. In such a situation, Russia looked towards its one potential ally, America. By the 1860s, Russia began to approach America. At that time America was dreaming of expanding its borders. Russia proposed to sell Alaska to America, but it did not happen so easily. There was a strategy behind this decision of Russia. He knew that there was already tension between America and Britain. If America were to take Alaska, Russia would not only get an economic relief but would also get an indirect opportunity to weaken Britain. Now imagine, on one hand Russia had to face economic crisis and on the other hand it took a clever decision. Alaska, once his biggest trading area, had now become a liability.

So this was the story when Russia thought – ‘It is right to sell Alaska!’ But how did this deal happen? How did American leader William H. Seward pull it off and why was it called ‘foolishness’? Let us know this also.

America’s dream – ‘Alaska should be ours!’

Now comes the twist in the story! Russia had decided to sell Alaska, but the question was how would America buy it? At that time, most people in America could not even imagine what to do with such a cold, snow-covered area. But, America’s Secretary of State, William H. Seward had a bigger dream. Seward thought, ‘Alaska is not just snow. This could be very important for the future of America. He took this offer from Russia seriously, but the matter was not so easy. At that time America had just come out of the civil war. The country’s economic condition was poor and the public considered the deal completely worthless, but Seward was not one to accept defeat. He started talks with Russian Ambassador Eduard de Stoeckl.

Russia proposed in 1867 to take Alaska for $7.2 million. Now listen to this amount and think, in today’s terms it is approximately 12 crore dollars. The story becomes interesting when this historic deal was finalized at midnight on 30 March 1867. Yes, you heard right – midnight! The conversation lasted for hours between Seward and Russian Ambassador Stokal. Eventually, the ‘Treaty of Cession’ was signed and America purchased Alaska, but the fun begins now. When this news reached the American public, there was an uproar. In the newspapers it was called ‘Seward’s Folly’ and ‘Icebox Deal’, people started making fun. Questions were asked: ‘Hey, what will we do with this icy land?’, ‘Will we only raise polar bears and seals there?’ There was a debate in Congress also. Many MPs called it a wasteful deal, but Seward was adamant. He believed that this land would prove to be a boon for America.

On March 31, 1867, Alaska officially became part of the United States. But at that time no one had any idea that this snowy land was a treasure trove of natural resources. Gold was discovered in Alaska in 1896. The Klondike Gold Rush made it a topic of discussion for the whole world. Later it was discovered that Alaska has huge reserves of oil and natural gas. This area proved to be strategically important for America’s defense and trade. Years later, when Alaska began to contribute to the American economy, the same people who had called Seward an idiot began to praise him. Today, Alaska is not only America’s largest state, but also one of the most prosperous regions.

This was the story when Seward’s ‘stupidity’ became foresight in history, but the question is – what happened to Canada with Alaska? How did the border dispute escalate? Come on, let us know this now!

Border dispute between Canada and Alaska

By now you have understood the story – Russia sold Alaska and Seward gave it to America, but the real uproar begins now, because as soon as it was decided that Alaska would become a part of America, Canada and America A fight broke out over the map. There is a long border between Alaska and Canada, but in 1867 the exact location of that border was not decided. A large part of the land was lying vacant and everyone was making their own claims on the maps. Canada said, “Hey brother, this land is ours! It lies near our areas.” America retorted, “We have bought Alaska, and this area is now ours. You stay within your limits!”

The matter was the ‘Alaskan Panhandle’ – that is, the narrow area that separates Alaska from Canada. There were big mountains, deep valleys, and villages situated on the sea shore. This area was very strategically and economically important. Canada claimed that the border should come up to the seashore. America said, “No, the border will pass over the mountains!” Now this controversy continued. Canada was angry that their border was not so precise and America was convinced that this area along with Alaska was also their property. Many times both sides tried to negotiate, but every time the matter got stuck. This dispute maintained tension between Canada and America for almost 30 years.

Finally, in 1903 the case went to the ‘Alaskan Boundary Tribunal’. Six people were involved in this – three from America, two from Canada, and one from Britain. Canada thought that Britain would support them, but here the story took a turn again. Britain supported America. America argued that Russia’s old maps and agreements justify their claim. Britain also accepted this. Result – America got the disputed area. Now imagine, what will be the condition of Canada? It was very difficult for him to accept this decision. Canada felt that Britain had betrayed them. At that time Canada was not a completely independent country and was under Britain. Canadians started saying, “Hey, we wanted our land, but Britain sold us out!”

After this decision, a 1,538 mile long border was established between Alaska and Canada. It is one of the longest international borders in the world. Today this border is an example of a peaceful relationship, but at that time this dispute had become a major cause of tension between the two countries. There is a story behind every line on the world map. 30 years of tension, negotiations, and anger are hidden behind this line drawn between Alaska and Canada, but the story does not end here. The next question is – why is Alaska so important? What makes it so special for America? Come, now let us know the story of Alaska’s priceless treasure!

Alaska’s precious treasure

Till now we have learned how Alaska slipped from the hands of Russia, came into the hands of America, and then there was a dispute over maps with Canada. But now the real question arises – why is Alaska so special? Why did Russia sell it considering it to be “useless snow land”, and America immediately bought it considering it to be “treasure”? Alaska is not just a land of snow. This is an area which is full of natural resources. When the discovery of gold began in the 19th century, Alaska fulfilled the dreams of the rich. Alaska has America’s largest oil and gas reserves. Even today it plays a big role in the energy needs of the country. There is such an abundance of fish in the seas of Alaska that the fishing industry here is famous all over the world. There are countless trees in the dense forests of Alaska, which are invaluable for wood.

Now listen to the story of the discovery of gold. In 1896, the ‘Klondike Gold Rush’ brought Alaska into the spotlight. Thousands of people came running to this snowy land, with only one hope – “You will find gold, you will become rich!” Many people have spent their entire savings to reach here in this dream. But the reality was that the search for gold was not easy. Snowy mountains, deadly cold, and thousands of people struggling with hunger and thirst, despite all this they found the glimmer of gold here.

In the 1950s, Alaska discovered another big secret – vast reserves of oil. When the largest reserves of oil were discovered in Prudhoe Bay, America’s energy revolution took off. The oil obtained from Alaska not only meets the needs of the country, but it is also exported. It was from here that America understood that this area purchased in 1867 was the “Crown of Ice” for them.

If you are thinking that Alaska is special only for oil and gold, then it is not so. The natural beauty here is no less than a treasure. There are thousands of glaciers in Alaska, many of which are as big as entire cities. The nights here show you those amazing lights, which people from all over the world come to see. Animals like bears, wolves, and moose roam in the forests here. This is a paradise for wildlife photography lovers. That is why America had bought this “snowy area” with such enthusiasm. Russia considered it a mistake and left it, but America made it a part of its future.

Alaska Natives and Their Tales

But there is another side to this deal between Russia and America. The indigenous people already living in Alaska – Inuit, Yupik, Athabaskan and other communities – were not even asked about this deal. When Russia came, it took away their natural resources and when America bought Alaska, it took decades for these people to even get citizenship. In 1971, the US government gave them 44 million acres of land and 1 billion dollars as compensation, but the damage caused to their culture and traditions can never be compensated.

This was the story of Alaska – a deal that initially seemed foolish, but time proved that it was America’s biggest gamble.