WI: Alaska as an independent nation

My scenario is, the Russian Empire hangs on the Alaska into the 20th Century. Gold is discovered as OTL, leading to immigration from Russia as well as some from the US & elsewhere tho less than OTL. This boosts the 'white' population and starts a mineral extraction economy.

In 1918 the Reds fail to take hold in Alaska, perhaps the leaders all die of cerebral hemmorage or something. The US and Britain cant tolerate a Red province in North America. So, a breakaway republic is established, subsidized by the US at some barely adequate level.

That seems most likely. About 20,000 White exiles hoping to make it to the US or Canada, 100,000 natives, oil extraction and mining industry run by US and Canadian companies for the benefit of a few Russian oligarchs who live in New York with their Alaskan citizenship.
 
That seems most likely. About 20,000 White exiles hoping to make it to the US or Canada, 100,000 natives, oil extraction and mining industry run by US and Canadian companies for the benefit of a few Russian oligarchs who live in New York with their Alaskan citizenship.

And the place is filled with Soviet agents. Later the Russians plot for reunification.

Alternately US citizens working in the extraction industry pull a 'Texas' and the place is annexed into the US at the end of the Cold War.
 
I think that another factor for independent Alaskan state where to exist, would be the construction of the Rampart Dam. In short construction of it would give an independent Alaska bountiful amounts of power and political-economic leverage in North America. Their is really good timeline about the Rampart Dam. https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/megaproject-lake-kennedy.141036/

I am not sure if construction can be initiated during early 20th century or even near the end of the 19th century though..
 
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My scenario is, the Russian Empire hangs on the Alaska into the 20th Century. Gold is discovered as OTL, leading to immigration from Russia as well as some from the US & elsewhere tho less than OTL. This boosts the 'white' population and starts a mineral extraction economy.

In 1918 the Reds fail to take hold in Alaska, perhaps the leaders all die of cerebral hemmorage or something. The US and Britain cant tolerate a Red province in North America. So, a breakaway republic is established, subsidized by the US at some barely adequate level.

this is pretty much the same as my AH timeline, except its not a republic. I called in the Grand Duchy of Alaska.
 
There actually was an Alaskan governor from the "Alaska Independence Party", Wally Hickel, in the early 90s. (although interestingly, he personally was actually opposed to independence.)

An Alaska that becomes independent in the 19th or early 20th centuries probably isn't going to fare very well, as has been previously established. But if Alaska were to be granted independence after WWII like the Philippines was, it might be more viable, since it would have a larger population, and a more developed and diversified economy, with tourism especially becoming a big part of things. of course, they'd still rely on the USA and Canada in a lot of ways, but they could probably fare alright as an independent state today.
 
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