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Alaska Purchase Timeline

(March 30, 1867–October 18, 1867)

The Alaska Purchase was the 1867 transfer of Alaska from the Russian Empire to the United States, transforming America’s presence in the North Pacific. Less

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Diplomacy and negotiations

Grand Duke Konstantin advocates a sale

1857

Grand Duke Konstantin, a younger brother of the Tsar, began pressing in 1857 for the handover of Russian America to the United States.

Image source: Alaska Purchase

Grand Duke Konstantin advocates a sale

Proposal to sell Russian America emerges

1857

The Russian government discussed selling its North American territory to the United States in 1857 and 1858, hoping that an American presence would offset British plans in the region.

Debate over postponing negotiations

1859

The Emperor ultimately sided with Gorchakov and decided to postpone negotiations until the Russian-American Company’s patent expired in 1861.

Russo-American Treaty of 1824

1859

Seeking favorable relations with the United States, Alexander agreed to the Russo-American Treaty of 1824.

Image source: Russo-American Treaty of 1824

Russo-American Treaty of 1824

Stoeckl conducts preliminary meetings

1859 - 1860

Over the winter of 1859–1860, Russian diplomat Eduard de Stoeckl met with United States officials, although he had been instructed not to initiate discussions about selling the Russian-American Company’s assets.

Image source: Eduard de Stoeckl

Stoeckl conducts preliminary meetings

Russian-American Company patent expires

1861

The Russian-American Company patent, whose expiration had influenced the timing of negotiations, was set to expire in 1861.

Image source: Russian-American Company

Russian-American Company patent expires

Union victory changes diplomatic conditions

1865

Following the Union victory in the Civil War in 1865, the political conditions were in place for Russia to resume serious discussions with the United States.

Image source: American Civil War

Union victory changes diplomatic conditions

Tsar orders renewed negotiations

Mar 1867

At the beginning of March 1867, the Tsar instructed Stoeckl to re-enter negotiations with United States Secretary of State William H. Seward.

Seward and Stoeckl reopen talks

Mar 1867

William H. Seward and Eduard de Stoeckl resumed negotiations over the sale of Russian America in March 1867.

Image source: William H. Seward

Seward and Stoeckl reopen talks

All-night treaty session

Mar 29, 1867 - Mar 30, 1867

The negotiations concluded after an all-night session, ending with the treaty’s signing at 04:00 on March 30, 1867.

Treaty agreement reached

Mar 30, 1867

Seward and Stoeckl agreed to a treaty for the sale of Russian America on March 30, 1867.

Treaty signing at 04:00

Mar 30, 1867

The treaty transferring Russian America to the United States was signed at 04:00 on March 30, 1867.

Russian America

Russian colonial presence in North America

1859

During the first half of the 19th century, the Russian Empire established a colonial presence in parts of North America, although relatively few Russians settled in Alaska.

Image source: Russian colonization of North America

Russian colonial presence in North America

Russian exploration reaches Alaska

1859

Russian explorers arrived in Alaska in 1732, establishing the historical basis for Russia’s later colonial claims and commercial activities in the region.

Russian-American Company fur charter

1859

In 1799, the Russian-American Company received a charter to hunt for fur, becoming the central Russian institution managing trade and colonial activity in Alaska.

Russian sovereignty claim over the Pacific coast

1859

In 1821, Tsar Alexander I issued an edict declaring Russian sovereignty over the North American Pacific coast north of the 51st parallel.

New Archangel serves as a Russian center

1860

New Archangel, now called Sitka, had been established in 1804 to manage the valuable sea-otter-skin trade and remained a principal settlement in Russian America.

Image source: Sitka, Alaska

New Archangel serves as a Russian center

New Archangel’s population recorded

1867

In 1867, New Archangel contained 116 small log cabins and had 968 residents.

Purchase and transfer

W. H. Dall defends the purchase

1867

The later historical account associated with W. H. Dall stated that there was no doubt a majority of United States citizens favored the acquisition.

American public debate over the purchase

1867

Many Americans believed in 1867 that the purchase process had been corrupt, even though later commentary argued that the purchase was broadly favored by the public.

United States acquires territory larger than Texas

Mar 30, 1867

The United States acquired an area more than twice as large as Texas through the purchase.

United States acquires 586,412 square miles

Mar 30, 1867

The acquisition added 586,412 square miles, or 1,518,800 square kilometers, to United States territory.

Per-acre cost calculated

Mar 30, 1867

The purchase price amounted to about two cents per acre, or $4.74 per square kilometer.

Purchase price established

Mar 30, 1867

The treaty set the purchase price at $7.2 million, equivalent to $136 million in 2025.

Alaska transfer ceremony scheduled

Oct 1867

The formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States was arranged to take place in Sitka in October 1867.

Transfer date becomes Alaska Day

Oct 1867

The formal transfer date in Sitka became the basis for Alaska Day, which commemorates the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States.

Image source: Alaska Day

Transfer date becomes Alaska Day

Calendar change accompanies the transfer

Oct 17, 1867

The Gregorian calendar came into effect in Alaska the day following the transfer, replacing the Julian calendar used by the Russians; in the 19th century, the Julian calendar was 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

Russian America transferred to the United States

Oct 18, 1867

The Alaska Purchase resulted in the transfer of Russian America to the United States for $7.2 million. The formal transfer ceremony took place in Sitka on October 18, 1867, the date recognized by the Gregorian calendar used for the event.

Alaska after the purchase

Russian settlers prepare to leave Alaska

Oct 1867

Nearly all Russian settlers left Alaska in the aftermath of the purchase, beginning the territory’s transition from Russian to American administration.

Alaska remains sparsely populated

Oct 1867

After the transfer, Alaska remained sparsely populated; its broader reputation as a valuable addition to United States territory would not emerge until the Klondike Gold Rush began in 1896.

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Key Facts

  1. The United States agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, or about 2 cents per acre.
  2. U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the agreement with Russia.
  3. The Treaty of Cession was signed on March 30, 1867, and ratified by the U.S. Senate on April 9, 1867.
  4. The formal transfer took place at Sitka on October 18, 1867, a date now observed as Alaska Day.
  5. Critics initially called the purchase “Seward’s Folly,” but Alaska’s natural resources and strategic importance later proved its value.

Source

This Alaska Purchase timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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