Posted on 04/20/2014 4:23:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Edited on 04/20/2014 6:25:05 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
In 1867, Russia sold the territory of Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million. A mere 50 years later, the Americans had earned that amount back 100 times over. How could the imperial officials have given up such a choice parcel? RBTH sorts out the muddled story of the sale of Alaska.
(Excerpt) Read more at rbth.com ...
Maybe because they wanted to see America from their house.
Alaska will always be viewable from their house whether they sold her it or not.
Yeah, but you see, back then, Alaska was their own house. Now they see America.
To keep the British Empire from capturing the relatively indefensible and unprofitable Alaska during another war with Britain, and to obtain money needed to repay loans that had become due and payable by the Russian Empire.
Maybe they needed some cash? Pawn shop....
“Seward’s folly” wasn’t a folly and Tzar needed cash.
Very few people know that less then 3 miles separate Alaska from Russia. You really can see Russia from Alaska.
So why was it known as Seward's Folly?
they had so much land....it was no big deal....and they had already discovered gold in alaska...so it’s not like they didn’t know there were assets.
Yep. But this point is two very isolated islands, Little Diomede on the U.S. side, with a population of 100 and Big Diomede Island on the Russian side with no permanent population. All native inhabitants were forcibly removed during the Cold War to prevent unauthorized contact with American.
WH website...WTH!
It still surprises me that America never took Canada
United States needed a hat.
No, we never did take Canada, but we tried! Twice. In 1775 and in the War of 1812. The Canadians turned out to be a lot tougher than they looked.
Louisiana Purchase remorse.
Throughout the USA, The EPA rules what they don't own. Clever!!
Get rid of the EPA.
or Seward’s Icebox
They tried heh.
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