Alaska's Alternate Destiny

What if Russia had never sold Alaska to the United States? In an alternate timeline, let's explore the possibilities and consequences of this scenario. Initially, the purchase of Alaska in our timeline wasn't seen as significant as the Louisiana Purchase. It was merely considered buying a frozen land far away from the heart of the U.S. But what if Russia had retained the territory and sent colonists across the Bering Strait, similar to their ventures in East Asia?

In our timeline, Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. after the Crimean War to focus on their western holdings. Alaska, with its depleted otter population, was not profitable and was more a collection of forts than a proper colony. The distance from the Russian heartland to North America made it seem not worth the effort. Moreover, Russia saw an opportunity to annoy Britain, who had fought against them during the war, by selling land next to Canada to the Americans.

In this alternate scenario, the decision to not sell Alaska doesn't require a dramatic event. It simply becomes a whim of the tsar to retain the territory. Russian America, as it was officially called, continues as a small part of the Russian empire throughout the 19th century. It remains largely unused and on the back burner, mainly used for whaling on the coast and to make Russia's empire appear larger on maps.

The presence of Russian colonists and forts slowly grows, resulting in decently sized cities along the coastline. If gold is discovered, a mix of Russians, Canadians, Americans, and Siberians flock to Alaska, fundamentally altering the cultural landscape. Similar to previous gold rushes, such as those in Colorado and California, the influx of miners reshapes the region, often at the expense of the indigenous populations.

Russia faces a delicate balance in this scenario. They aim to limit the number of Americans settling in Alaska while avoiding conflict with Britain and the U.S., on whom they rely for regional supplies. Sending troops across the Bering Strait to enforce borders would risk starvation, making it challenging to keep miners out. Alaska was never a lucrative venture for Russia, and they lacked the naval capability to ensure its long-term inclusion in the empire.

Now, let's delve into two possible outcomes for this alternate timeline. In the more realistic situation, Alaska remains under Russian control at the turn of the century. It serves as a foothold in North America, with a mix of American, Inuit, and Russian cultures developing. During World War I, Russia aligns with Britain as an ally, and Alaska remains well-resourced through shipping, controlled by Canadians and neutral Americans. However, the Russian Revolution eventually reaches Alaska, leading to a split in the scenario.

In the first section, the Alaskan population doesn't experience its own Bolshevik revolution. If one were to occur, it would likely be suppressed by neighboring countries. Alaska becomes a shelter for anti-communists, representing the last bastion of pre-Soviet Russia. While the situation in the Arctic during the 20th century resembles a China-Taiwan scenario, Alaska's government becomes the true state of Russia in the eyes of capitalist nations. The Soviets consider it a rogue state to be destroyed, but they lack the resources to eliminate it completely.

In the second, more whimsical section, the Soviet army somehow manages to take and hold Alaska. This scenario involves a fluke that allows the Soviets to establish a naval presence in the region, with fortified ports helping them resist American and British forces. However, the feasibility of this outcome is questionable.

Regardless of the specific outcome, Alaska's fate in this alternate timeline would be shaped by the events of the 20th century. The discovery of oil in the mid-20th century would bring economic prosperity to the region, akin to Qatar in the Arctic. The oil profits would improve living standards and transform the coastal cities, potentially revitalizing pre-Soviet architecture and aesthetics. By the time of the Soviet collapse, the debate of rejoining with the rest of Russia would arise, but decades of separation and economic collapse in the Soviet states would make it less appealing.

In conclusion, exploring the alternate destiny of Alaska without its sale to the U.S. offers intriguing possibilities. It allows us to speculate on the historical, cultural, and geopolitical implications of this divergence. While some scenarios are more realistic than others, imagining the consequences sheds light on the potential trajectory of Russian America and its complex relationship with mainland Russia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.