Why did Russia sell Alaska?

The Russian Empire and the United States signed the treaty on March 18 (30), 1867, in Washington.

The United States received the entire Alaska Peninsula, the Alexander and Kodiak archipelagos, the Aleutian Islands, and several islands in the Bering Sea. The United States paid $7.2 million in gold for all these territories!

There’s a stereotype that Alaska was sold for profit, and some still believe Catherine was involved in the deal… According to one version, Catherine II. According to another, Catherine Dolgorukova.

In fact, St. Petersburg had many reasons for selling Alaska. The colonies’ geographic remoteness, supply problems, harsh climate, resistance from numerous and warlike Alaskan Indians, weak governance by the Russian-American Company (RAC), the RAC’s dire economic situation, the military threat to the Russian colonies from Great Britain as a result of Russia’s weakening after the Crimean War, and the desire to pit Britain and the United States against each other…

From the perspective of the tsarist government, the main reason for abandoning Russian America was Russia’s weakness in the Pacific. The empire was unable to defend the colonies in the event of a military conflict, as the Crimean War had demonstrated.

At the instigation of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, head of the Naval Ministry, the topic of Alaska’s defenselessness became widely discussed in government circles.

In 1866, Finance Minister Mikhail Reitern wrote in a note dated December 2 (December 14):

“The transfer of the colonies to the United States seems to me particularly desirable from a political standpoint, for, on the one hand, it would rid us of a possession which, in the event of a war with one of the maritime powers, we are unable to defend. On the other hand, in the event of the proposed transfer, the United States would become neighbors of the English colonies not only to the south but also to the northwest. This, in my opinion, would inevitably lead to a strengthening of our friendly relations with the United States and an increase in the expressed disagreements of these States with England.”

He was echoed by Vice-Admiral Nikolai Krabbe, head of the Ministry of the Navy. Krabbe wrote to Foreign Minister Gorchakov:

“The cession of these remote colonies, which bring us no benefit and cannot bring us any benefit, have no significant connection with Russia, and which we cannot defend in case of need, would satisfy the demands of prudence and prudence.”

Gorchakov himself pointed out at the same time:

“Our means of defense are insufficient to protect them even from American filibusters… In the event of war, our colonies will be at the mercy of any hostile power.”

By purchasing Alaska, America gained economic and military-strategic advantages for a relatively small sum. The situation in the North Pacific changed in the United States’ favor: American entrepreneurs reaped enormous profits from furs, fish, timber, and later gold, oil, and other minerals.

The question is, did Russia win or lose in this deal?