On this page
Three key points
$7.2 million was the 1867 sale price, not its present-day value.
Russia made strategic and financial calculations; Alaska Native peoples were not asked for consent.
The “two Fridays” resulted from changes to both the calendar and the date line.
Why sell it?
The United States and Russia signed the Alaska treaty in 1867. Russia weighed the cost of governing a distant territory and rivalry with Britain.
Calling it “a burden for Russia” is a shorthand. The price cannot capture today’s purchasing power or every motive behind the decision.
Who lived there?
The Russian settler population was small, but Alaska was not empty. Many Indigenous peoples had long lived there.
“Around 700 Russians” in the video is not the total population and excludes Indigenous peoples. The bargaining between characters is dramatization, not a transcript.
Friday after Friday?
When Alaska passed to the United States, both the local calendar and the counting of days changed. That produced a repeated Friday.
This does not mean two Fridays occurred in one day. “That day” in the video compresses a calendar change around the transfer.
Oil and dividends came later
Alaska’s resources became economically important later. A state fund now pays dividends to residents who meet its requirements.
Oil discoveries were not known in 1867. Dividends are not automatic for every person living in Alaska.
About the materials
The cover and many scenes are explanatory historical collages, not photographs or footage of the events.
Found an error?
If you find a specific error or a better source, send us the claim and its link. We will review it and date any correction on this page.
Write to us on Instagram
