Russia

Russian American (1733-1867)

Nayeli Mora Perla Trueba Juyoung Park Charlie Rodiles Leopoldo Beltran Ana Vega

Russian explorers and settlers continued to establish trading posts in mainland Alaska, on the Aleutian Islands, Hawaii and Northern California.

1784

Grigory Shelikhov.

Some researchers believe that the first Russian settlement in Alaska was established in 17th century.

In 1648, several expeditionary men were thrown to Alaska by storm and founded this settlement.

COLONIZATION OF ALASKA

Russian colonies’ population was about 4,000,0000

From 1732 to 1867. The Russian-American

Company was formed in 1799 with the influence of Nikolay Rezanov for the purpose of hunting sea otters for their fur.

Alaska’s population was made by mostly native Alaskans.

The number of Russians rarely exceeded 500 at any one time.

1799

END OF THE RUSSIAN ALASKA COLONY

By the 1860’s, Russia was in a difficult financial position, and feared losing Alaska without any compensation if they got into some conflict in the future, so they decided to sell it (Alaskan territory) to the United States for only 2 cents an acre. But few years later, in Alaska, there were lots of natural resources like gold and oil, and 10% of the patrons in the world.

COLONIZATION OF CALIFORNIA

From 1812 to 1841. Established in 1812 near Bodega Bay at Fort Rossiin Northern California.

By 1818 there were 26 Russians & 102 Native Americans total.

They ran the commercial operation by Russian-American fur company

END OF CALIFORNIA COLONY

The fur trade had depleted and the governments of France, Britain and Mexico had declined. In 1841, Russians decided to abandon Fort Ross. Russian California was handed in peacefully and completely free.

Main Problems of Russian AmericaAs already mentioned before, Russia was going through many financial problems, and having colonies in the United States wasn't making it easy for them. The cost of exporting food and other products all the way to Alaska & California was too high. This economic aspects affected the Russian government so much that Russian colonies in the US had to be removed.

Buying Alaska

• Alaska was purchased from Russia on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million at approximately two cents per acre.

• The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized territory on May 11, 1912, and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959.

Tsarist Government •The Tsarist government expected that the Russian-American Company would make great plans of expansion. As a result of it, the northern part of the Pacific Ocean would be the new home waters of the Russian Empire.

• G. I. Shelikhov and D. I. Zavalishin supported Alekeseeva’s idea that she wrote in her book. This idea was about the unrealized projects to transform the Northern part of the Pacific Ocean into an inland sea of Russia. In 1806 Rezanov proposed a new plan for Russia’s establishment on both shores of the Pacific Ocean.

D. I. Zavalishin

The general of the fleet Count N. F. Golovin, elaboarated a project to send a large-scale expedition of the Russian navy; with the goal of training experienced marines, expanding commerce and founding forts in America.

1732