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?
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).
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.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?
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?
Who made the decision not to let the public know? And what issues did the CA rush cause?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.![]()
Who made the decision not to let the public know? And what issues did the CA rush cause?
What are the chances that an Alaskan gold rush early in 1870 would lead to B.C. not joining the Canadian Confederation?
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?