WI: Alaskan gold discovered circa 1870

What if the deposits of gold found in Alaska (as well as perhaps the Yukon) that where discovered post 1890 where instead found circa 1870?
 
What if the deposits of gold found in Alaska (as well as perhaps the Yukon) that where discovered post 1890 where instead found circa 1870?

Move the circa to 1848, when Russian Explorers, discovered placer gold in the Kenai River in 1848, but no gold was produced, have them ask Tsar Nicholas I for miners, equipment and soldiers.
Once they start mining Alaska becomes a jewel in the Russian crown.

This could start a war between Russia and Britain over Yukon?

USA would lose out as Russia wont sell it. Maybe a war with US as well?
 
I'm more interested in the effects on the US if its found during the 1870. Since this will place any gold rush during the long depression of the late 1800s I'm interested in how it will effect the US's economy and culture. As well as the settlement of Alaska and even butterflies like the Black Hills gold rush and ensuing conflicts with the Sioux.
 
Following to GreatDuke:

Short term: Russia does not sell Alaska, russo-japanese war probably butterflied away. Also, oil discovered - more reasons to hold Alaska.

Long term: An early Cold War - imagine a USSR missile silo in Juneau, or Sitka instead Cuba. This if the 1917 revolution happens as OTL...
But if no russo-japanese war happens as OTL, well... who knows.
Bering Bridge being built and connected with transsiberian railway (i left the same idea to another thread).
 
Short term: Russia does not sell Alaska, russo-japanese war probably butterflied away. Also, oil discovered - more reasons to hold Alaska.

Long term: An early Cold War - imagine a USSR missile silo in Juneau, or Sitka instead Cuba. This if the 1917 revolution happens as OTL...
But if no russo-japanese war happens as OTL, well... who knows.
Bering Bridge being built and connected with transsiberian railway (i left the same idea to another thread).

America purchased Alaska in 1867.

If it didn't, you can't even count on the October Revolution happening as it did, since Russia would be wealthier and things would be butterflied. Even if it did, I doubt Alaska would go along for the ride following the Russian Revolution (would be seized by the U.S. or the U.K.)
 
Move the circa to 1848, when Russian Explorers, discovered placer gold in the Kenai River in 1848, but no gold was produced, have them ask Tsar Nicholas I for miners, equipment and soldiers.
Once they start mining Alaska becomes a jewel in the Russian crown.

This could start a war between Russia and Britain over Yukon?

USA would lose out as Russia wont sell it. Maybe a war with US as well?
And found in reality. But it was not allowed to report it so as not to cause a gold rush to the influx of adventurers. The fate of California was a good lesson.:D
 
The failure of the russo-japanese war contributed to the late revolution, but its not the main reason for it. There were another bigger factors that ignited it.

But i think, the zar would resign Port Arthur for a golden Alaska. And, if not war -> no Bloody Sunday, no soviets (soviets were created in 1905 after the war). One problem less. Still left the poor state, in general (poor economy, infrastructure, military...). But maybe Alaska could open new trade oportunities - as conflicts...
 
Move the circa to 1848, when Russian Explorers, discovered placer gold in the Kenai River in 1848, but no gold was produced, have them ask Tsar Nicholas I for miners, equipment and soldiers.
Once they start mining Alaska becomes a jewel in the Russian crown.

This could start a war between Russia and Britain over Yukon?

USA would lose out as Russia wont sell it. Maybe a war with US as well?

If Alaska is worth something then Britain will take it in the Crimean war, assuming it happens. OTL they didn't bother as it wasn't worth anything.
 
Imagine if the Russo-Japanese war still happens, and Japan conquers Alaska. If WW2 happens that would be very interesting to see, as well as Alaska's culture (Melting pot of Native, Japanese, Russian and some American/British? Would be 'cool' to see).
 
And found in reality. But it was not allowed to report it so as not to cause a gold rush to the influx of adventurers. The fate of California was a good lesson.:D
Who made the decision not to let the public know? And what issues did the CA rush cause?
 

katchen

Banned
Well Congress was dead set against appropriating any money to organize or administer Alaska in a late case of buyers remorse against acquiring the place. A gold rush would have sent thousands of settlers into an area that the US Government had no facilities to administer at all and wouldn't until the influx and the chaos forced Congress to abandon it's position. That dosen't explain who decided to keep a lid on the presence of gold in Alaska and how they were able to do it. And that's what I and everyone else on the list would like to know.
 
Pretty uncool of the second post to just change the POD like that. If you want a different POD, do your own thread.

1870 is early enough that you may get an interesting number of ex-confederates and ex-Union soldiers up there. With the lack of administration, in the popular imagination the Wild West may be Alaska, not the western interior of the continental US.
 
The inflation caused by the influx of new gold could prevent the silver standard argument from arising, like how it ended that argument's popularity in OTL. It might be enough to stop the crash of 1873, which would leave the Republicans in a much stronger position and could leave Reconstruction in place for longer.
 
What are the chances that an Alaskan gold rush early in 1870 would lead to B.C. not joining the Canadian Confederation?

It wasn't really ever a serious proposition as far as Victoria was concerned, though if it split into more administrative units...?
 
Pretty uncool of the second post to just change the POD like that. If you want a different POD, do your own thread.

1870 is early enough that you may get an interesting number of ex-confederates and ex-Union soldiers up there. With the lack of administration, in the popular imagination the Wild West may be Alaska, not the western interior of the continental US.

The inflation caused by the influx of new gold could prevent the silver standard argument from arising, like how it ended that argument's popularity in OTL. It might be enough to stop the crash of 1873, which would leave the Republicans in a much stronger position and could leave Reconstruction in place for longer.

What are the chances that an Alaskan gold rush early in 1870 would lead to B.C. not joining the Canadian Confederation?

These have been some of the things I've been considering. Also by circa 1870 I meant give or take a year or so. So we could even consider 1868.

Now given how the crisis of 1873 was an event that affected most of Europe as well as the US I don't know if it could stop its effects on the USA but I'm an ignorant one on that subject.

Also does anyone have ideas on how this could affect the settlement of other western territories such as the Dakotas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. As well how might it change the conflicts with Native tribes which in OTL came about due to gold deposits on their tribal lands. The conflict over the Black Hills the US had with the Sioux is one example that I'd like to analyze.
 
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