Why did Russia sold Alaska?

Answer 1

It was 1867 at the time of the purchase, one backed by then Secretary of State William Seward. Russia was afraid the British would battle for the land and simply take it, and they were having financial troubles, so selling it to anyone was preferable.

It was a decision initially derided in the U.S., and Seward was ridiculed... the purchase was refered to as "Seward's folly". Of course the land turned out to be oil-rich and exceedingly strategic in later years, but the Russians had no way of knowing that back then... and to be fair, neither did the U.S. But it worked out well for the U.S., of course, in the long run.

Answer 2

Alaska wasn't sold , it was leased for 100 years . Russia did not claim it back after that .

Answer 3

If they had known that Alaska had gold or that in the future, during the cold war, they could have been threateningly close to the U.S., they wouldn't have done it.

Answer 4

for money, and the fact that they did not know that Alaska had oil, and iron, and all the other minerals

Answer 5

Money talks.

Answer 6

I guess they needed the money

Answer 7

Because they didn't know what they were doing.