2007-04-28 09:38:44 · 2 answers · asked by Nick f 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Strategic location and very valuable resources such as timber.
2007-04-28 09:41:47 · answer #1 · answered by Adel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Russia already controlled all of southern Alaska and also the coast along Northern California, but, in order to maintain a continuous empire they had to have what was in the middle. It was more than just the sea otter trade at this point, it was an issue of economics and trade, provisioning the colony in Alaska and finding new sources of raw materials, food and supplies in other areas. They knew that central and southern California were already controlled by the Spanish, it was now a matter of filling in the gap, fulfilling a continuous empire, and also keeping other countries, especially the British, out and far away.
2007-04-28 18:09:49 · answer #2 · answered by John B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋