California-Alaska Trade, 1851–1867: The American Russian Commercial Company and the Russian America Company and the Sale/Purchase of Alaska

Abstract

This article examines the economic and logistical dynamics of mid-19th-century trade between Russian America and California, focusing on key commodities like ice, fish, and coal. It highlights the challenges faced by the Russian America Company, including resource depletion, competition, and mismanagement, which hindered sustainable trade with California. The analysis demonstrates how these issues, coupled with the failure to generate sufficient profits and maintain effective operations, influenced Russia’s decision to sell Alaska to the United States in 1867. The study sheds light on the broader economic and political implications of this trade relationship.