Russia's Alaska

[drewan]

Today in History:
Alaska: was acquired by the US from Russia (1867)

Wow... what would the world be like if Russia hadn't sold Alaska to the US? Sure could have made the cold war interesting!

Comments

[yarram.livejournal.com]

Actually, having the US own Alaska puts the two countries closer than if Russia still owned Alaska. The Diomede Islands are only about 2 miles apart, separated by the International Date Line. Granted, neither countries has major population centers near each other they way they would otherwise, but still...

[drewan.livejournal.com]

Yes, but if Russia (or USSR during the cold war era) owned Alaska, that would have given them significant property in North America. Could they have chosen to move a large amound of population to Alaska just to make in impact or statement?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

If Napoleon hadn't needed some quick cash either, we might be speaking French (or debating hotly about it).

On even yet another hand, roughly 10% of our forces in WWII were committed to defending Alaska. If we didn't have to worry about that, parts of cold war history would be different as well.

Now, if you hadn't stepped on that butterfly in the past...