In 1867, Russian Tsar Alexander II sold Alaska to the United States for 7.2 million dollars, transferring a remote northern region that leadership previously feared it could not defend following the Crimean War. The transaction concluded decades after Siberian colonization began in the first half of the 18th century through the expeditions of Vitus Bering, whose name marks the strait between Alaska and Asia.
Siberian expeditions sparked early fur trade
Siberian colonization took off following the 18th-century expeditions of Vitus Bering. Due to extreme conditions, only a few thousand settlers made homes on the Alaskan coastline over a long period. These early inhabitants focused primarily on fur hunting and trading pelts with the indigenous populations to build wealth.
Did You Know? Vitus Bering’s name is preserved in the strait that stretches between Alaska and Asia, establishing the geographic link that drove early Russian exploration into the region.
The Crimean War and the 1867 Sale to the United States
Russia viewed Alaska as a relatively worthless territory, and a sale was first raised after Russia suffered a heavy defeat in the Crimean War, which lasted from 1853 to 1856. The Russian leadership believed they would be unable to defend the land in any future conflict. Although the United States showed serious interest earlier, the deal was finalized on March 30, 1867, when Tsar Alexander II sold the territory.
Expert Insight: The 1867 purchase transformed North American geopolitics, trading a perceived liability for an eventual store of vast natural wealth, despite initial political mockery and skepticism from contemporary critics.
Political Backlash and the Reality of Johnson’s Polar Bear Garden
Many critics called William Henry Seward a fool for driving the deal, labeling the territory “Johnson’s polar bear garden” and joking that the president aimed to pad the American bureaucracy with bears and walruses. The financial transaction was completed when the money was paid in August 1868, following the official handover ceremony that took place on October 18, 1867. These skeptics were ultimately proven wrong by the Klondike gold rush and the discovery of massive oil reserves in the northern territory.
Answers to historical questions about the Alaska purchase
How much did the United States pay for Alaska?
Tsar Alexander II sold Alaska to the United States for 7.2 million dollars on March 30, 1867.
When did the formal handover of Alaska take place?
The transfer and handover of the territory took place on October 18, 1867, though the payment was finalized later in August 1868.
What resources ultimately proved the critics wrong?
Critics who mocked the purchase were proven wrong by the Klondike river valley gold rush and the discovery of immense oil riches in the northern tartitude.
What unexpected historical land purchases or transactions do you think shaped modern national borders the most?
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