What if Russia had not lost its possessions in America?
The naval base of the Russian Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. Alaska Autonomous Okrug as part of the Russian Federation. Russian missiles aimed at Washington and New York from Fort Ross in our California. All this could be a reality in some alternative reality, but only a mirage by the grace of the Romanov dynasty.
Alaska
Everyone knows that Alaska once belonged to Russia, since it was launched by the Dezhnev expedition in the 17th century, and after that our compatriots began to settle there. Unlike European colonists, the Russians quite peacefully got along with the local population and were not seen in the genocide of the Indians. This was largely due to the fact that the settlers from Russia were mainly engaged in hunting, and peace and cooperation with the Aleuts were beneficial to them.
The capital of Russian Alaska was the city of Novo-Arkhangelsk. As a result of a rather “muddy” story, the Romanovs sold gigantic territories in the north of the continent to the United States of America. It is believed that after the Americans found gold there. But according to other sources, the monarchy was aware of this, but found it safer to give up these vast and rich lands to the energetic United States, since it itself was not able to really develop resources, and was afraid that it would not be able to hold them by force due to the emergency remoteness.
If Alaska were still part of Russia to this day, then the United States would have no reason to claim the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route. And that Washington would have to sweat with fear, being at the sight of Russian medium-range missiles.
Fort Ross
Even more interesting would be the alignment of forces, if our country had kept territory in California. This fortress (pictured) was founded in 1812 by the Russian-American Trading Company on land purchased from the Indians. The main purpose of the settlement, created in the south, was to provide food to Alaska. Our settlers were engaged in agriculture, built ships in their own shipyard, engaged in production. Like in Alaska, the Russians quite peacefully coexisted with the indigenous population and often married Indian women.
Madrid, which was sincerely convinced that California was its rightful property, was not enthusiastic about such a “splinter” and tried to expel the Russians through negotiations, but in vain. At that time, Russia had a rare historical opportunity: Mexico, independent of Spain, was formed. Tsar Nicholas I was offered to recognize Mexico, in exchange she would recognize Fort Ross and ensure good neighborly relations on the American continent. But solidarity with the Spanish crown turned out to be higher for the Russian monarchy, and the Romanovs missed another unique historical chance.
In 1839, the Company decided to sell Fort Ross to Spain, but she refused. As a result, the Russian lands in California went to the Americans. Needless to say, the history of our country and the United States could go a completely different way, if Fort Ross was still part of Russia?
Hawaii
In recent years, it has been increasingly said that these islands could well be not the American state, but the Russian province. And it is true.
Through the efforts of the same Russian-American Company, three fortresses were built in Hawaii; it received a valley from the local king as a gift. Moreover, the Hawaiians themselves asked to take themselves under the protection of the Russian monarchy, but the Romanovs again declined. The case ended with the British and Americans sailing to the islands and squeezing the Russians out. The head of national diplomacy Nesselrode issued the following summary:
As we see, the United States was not afraid of inconvenience, and now American tourists are resting in Hawaii, and their navy is in Pearl Harbor.
Alaska
Everyone knows that Alaska once belonged to Russia, since it was launched by the Dezhnev expedition in the 17th century, and after that our compatriots began to settle there. Unlike European colonists, the Russians quite peacefully got along with the local population and were not seen in the genocide of the Indians. This was largely due to the fact that the settlers from Russia were mainly engaged in hunting, and peace and cooperation with the Aleuts were beneficial to them.
The capital of Russian Alaska was the city of Novo-Arkhangelsk. As a result of a rather “muddy” story, the Romanovs sold gigantic territories in the north of the continent to the United States of America. It is believed that after the Americans found gold there. But according to other sources, the monarchy was aware of this, but found it safer to give up these vast and rich lands to the energetic United States, since it itself was not able to really develop resources, and was afraid that it would not be able to hold them by force due to the emergency remoteness.
If Alaska were still part of Russia to this day, then the United States would have no reason to claim the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route. And that Washington would have to sweat with fear, being at the sight of Russian medium-range missiles.
Fort Ross
Even more interesting would be the alignment of forces, if our country had kept territory in California. This fortress (pictured) was founded in 1812 by the Russian-American Trading Company on land purchased from the Indians. The main purpose of the settlement, created in the south, was to provide food to Alaska. Our settlers were engaged in agriculture, built ships in their own shipyard, engaged in production. Like in Alaska, the Russians quite peacefully coexisted with the indigenous population and often married Indian women.
Madrid, which was sincerely convinced that California was its rightful property, was not enthusiastic about such a “splinter” and tried to expel the Russians through negotiations, but in vain. At that time, Russia had a rare historical opportunity: Mexico, independent of Spain, was formed. Tsar Nicholas I was offered to recognize Mexico, in exchange she would recognize Fort Ross and ensure good neighborly relations on the American continent. But solidarity with the Spanish crown turned out to be higher for the Russian monarchy, and the Romanovs missed another unique historical chance.
In 1839, the Company decided to sell Fort Ross to Spain, but she refused. As a result, the Russian lands in California went to the Americans. Needless to say, the history of our country and the United States could go a completely different way, if Fort Ross was still part of Russia?
Hawaii
In recent years, it has been increasingly said that these islands could well be not the American state, but the Russian province. And it is true.
Through the efforts of the same Russian-American Company, three fortresses were built in Hawaii; it received a valley from the local king as a gift. Moreover, the Hawaiians themselves asked to take themselves under the protection of the Russian monarchy, but the Romanovs again declined. The case ended with the British and Americans sailing to the islands and squeezing the Russians out. The head of national diplomacy Nesselrode issued the following summary:
The acquisition of these islands and their voluntary entry into his patronage not only cannot bring Russia any substantial benefit, but, on the contrary, in many respects is fraught with very important inconveniences.
As we see, the United States was not afraid of inconvenience, and now American tourists are resting in Hawaii, and their navy is in Pearl Harbor.
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