History (Japanese Alaska)

Alaska Purchase
had been looking for someone to sell to, as it was proving too remote for them to exploit, and proved more expensive than it was worth. Besides the, only , specifically the Dominion of , would be potentially interested in the purchase. However, Russian antagonism towards Britain prevented them from selling it to them.

Enter. In 1875, Japan and Russia negotiated the Treaty of Saint Petersburg, under which Japan renounced Sakhalin Island in exchange for the Kuril Islands. The Japanese, now bordering Russian Alaska in the far north, began to take an interest in it.

In 1887(?), Prime Minister negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

Gold!
In 1900, gold was discovered in the Klondike region, setting off a major gold rush. Japanese prospectors flooded into Alaska and over the border into Canada. Though some animosity existed between the Japanese prospectors on the one hand and the Canadian and American prospectors on the other, a relative degree of order was preserved, thanks in large part to co-operation between Canadian and Japanese police forces.

First Russo-Japanese War
Russia, however, was not happy about this discovery. Combined with the belief of many in the government that Russia needed "a short victorious war to stem the tide of revolution", Russia declared war upon the Empire of Japan in 1904, beginning the

The war began with a naval assault by the Russians against the Japanese. The Japanese won this battle, though not nearly as decisive a victory as in OTL. Japanese troops moved through Korea into. The war was fought hard by both sides, but in the end, it proved a stalemate. Japanese troops continued to occupy parts of Manchuria, while Russian troops were in northeastern Korea. Finally, both sides exhausted by the fighting, a peace treaty was drawn up, with President ?? of the United States aribtrating. No territory would exchange hands, nor would any indemnities be paid. Japan would withdraw her troops from Manchuria, and Russia would do the same in Korea. Japan would recognized Russian interests in Manchuria, while Russia recognized Japanese interests in Korea. Perhaps needless to say, Japan retained control of Alaska. Japan also sought to strengthen ties with Britain.

Meiji Revolution
The war shook Japan's confidence in their armed forces. The war was considered a Japanese victory, as they had retained their territory and solidified control over Korea, however, the costs were immense. Japan began to seek closer alliance with Britain to protect herself from further Russian agression. Major reforms of the navy and army were also instituted.

Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was much the same as in OTL.

Asia
Japan, by stalemating Russia, became an example of an Asian power standing up, successfully, to European imperialism.

Annexation of Manchuria
In 1909, the Russian Empire forced China to cede Manchuria, setting the stage for the.

Second Russo-Japanese War
Japan was outraged by Russia's annexation of Manchuria, and attempted to force Russia to retrocede it by diplomatic pressure and threats of war.

Tensions were high as the year 1910 began. Both Russia and Japan began preparations for war, mobilizing troops. Neither side was willing to back down. On March 1, 1910, with Japanese encouragement, Manchurian rebels proclaimed the existence of a free and independent Manchu Kingdom.

Russia proclaimed war upon the breakaway state, and Japan immediately proclaimed war upon Russia in defense of the kingdom, initiating the Second Russo-Japanese War.

Britain proclaimed provisional neutrality, largely out of fear of disrupting the balance of power in Eastern Europe, where Russia was needed to balance German and Austro-Hungarian might.

Japan readily defeated Russia's Pacific Fleet in a series of engagements in the Sea of Japan, and the Imperial Army entered Manchuria, quickly pushing further.

By 1912, most of Manchuria had been liberated, and Japanese troops had taken control of parts of the Russian Maritime Provinces, which were intended to be annexed to Manchuria, which they had historically belonged to. On July 30, 1912, as the war was raging, the Emperor of Japan passed away, and was succeeded by his son, who became known as the Taish&#333; Emperor.

Initially, the Russians hoped that the new Emperor would prove more amenable to peace talks. However, the new Emperor proved to have little power, and the military continued the plans they'd made during his father's reign.

The world was stunned at Russia's sheer incompetence in the war, and, late in 1912, the Tsar abdicated, passing the crown to his brother, who declined it.

It was hoped by the military commanders that this would allow the war to be fought more effectively, but this proved a forelorn hope, and revolution broke out. The borderlands declared independence, while various groups in Great Russia fought for control.

Russian Civil War
Russia was in shambles. The Second Russo-Japanese War transitioned into the Russian Civil War. Japan saw in the civil war an opportunity to permanently shatter their old foe. Other nations, too, saw in it an opportunity to gain influence in Russia. Soon, the various Powers were intervening in Russian affairs. Germany recognized the independence of Poland, the Baltic Republics, and Finland, while Austro-Hungary recognized the new Ukrainian Republic.

In St. Petersburg, the socialists, dominated by the Bolshevik faction, seized control, claiming authority over all of Russia. The Tsar was assassinated, though his family fled to Siberia, and claimed asylum in the Japanese-controled areas. The former Tsarevitch, Alexei, was proclaimed Tsar (initially of Russia, later of merely Siberia)

The Civil War continued until the Moscow Congress, which formally spelled the end of the Russian Empire, recognizing in its place, numerous new nations, most of which were dominated by one Great Power or another.

Rivalries between the various new states would eventually provide the catalyst for the Great War, which many historians believe would've occurred earlier, had it not been for the distraction of the Civil War (and, indeed, one could view the Russian Civil War as a sort of Great War in proxy)