AHC: Create a US-Russian foreign alliance before 1900

Recently I created a thread in which I asked about the Consequences of a US-Russian alliance but it didn't get much attention. So for this thread I'd like to ask for something related to that topic. Create a POD(s) that in improves US-Russian relations before 1900 to the point that a foreing alliance is created between the two.
 
Weren't the two countries very friendly with eachother at this time in OTL anyway? They would just need some reason to formalise their alliance by a treaty (for ex. an attack on one of them by a common adversary).
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Russia was one of the few countries to offer unquestioning support for the Union throughout the duration of the ACW. Too, I believe Count Dashkov conveyed Tsar Alexander's offer to mediate the War of 1812 between Britain and the US. And of course there was the successful transference of Alaska.
 
Weren't the two countries very friendly with eachother at this time in OTL anyway? They would just need some reason to formalise their alliance by a treaty (for ex. an attack on one of them by a common adversary).

Indeed, up until the Great Rapprochement, Russia was America's best friend in the world.
 
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That's just mediation, though. And, I'm not sure if Russia could help that much during the ACW.

I don't know how strong the Russians were after Crimea, so we may need to butterfly that away or have the U.S. open Japan a few years later. But, how about a situation where something goes wrong and the japanese end up declaring war ont he U.S. when the U.S. attempts to open it up to trade. With less ability to project its power the U.S. could seek Russian help.

Or, maybe the Meiji REstoration in 1868 goes awry, and the U.S. finds itself trying to support one side and - again - it's too early for it to prject a lot of power. So they solicit Russian aid.
 

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
You really need to change the US aditude to foreign alliances, there was no such thing during peacetime till after WWII.
 
In the 19th century America's only real potential enemies were either Mexico - which the US could handle on it's own - or Britain. To have the USA actively seek foreign alliances then it needs to have an enemy big enough to need an alliance, and the only real enemy would be Britain. Given the Great Game being played out at the time between Britain and Russia over control of central asia it's not inconceivable to have Russia willing to enter into an anti British alliance, the trick is to get the US into it. Most likely scenario is probably the ACW, but that was unlikely to end up with Britain propping up the CSA and after Crimea you might even get the French siding with Britain again.
 
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