Alaska (Russian America)

Alaska (: Аляска, Alyaska), officially the Alaskan Democratic Federative Republic (Аляскинская Демократическая Федеративная Республика, Alyaskinskaya Demokraticheskaya Federativnaya Respublika) and abbreviated as the A.D.F.R. (А.Д.Ф.Р.), is a sovereign nation which occupies the ern half of. Alaska borders Borealia:0:0 and the United States:0:0 to the east, Mexico:0:0 to the south, and a maritime border with the Russia:Russian Federation:0 to the west. The ADFR is the only nation (outside the former Soviet Union:0:0) to have a large population.

History

 * Main articles: Timeline:0:0 and 

Colonialism
By 1804, Governor Alexander Baranov:0:0 has secured his hold on the and all the  activities within northern Pacific coast of. Following the Russian victory over the at the, Baranov had become a major figure in the. Despite the victories over the natives, Russian colonists would remain along the coast of North America.



With the north thriving with Russian activity, many (including Baranov) would look southward as Russia's future. Russian traders would begin cooperation with the and  colonists in the region, while the United States:Americans:0 would propose several joint ventures with the Russians in the region. By 1806, Russia was seeking further south towards the coast (especially the coastal regions north of, where Spanish activity was non-existent). Upon his return to New Archangel, Captain would encourage Baranov and Tsar  to establish a Russian port in California.

In 1809, Alexander Baranov would charter Ivan Kuskov:0:0 to explore northern California for a potential location for a Russian colony. Captaining the Kodiak, Kuskov would soon sail into modern day, and returning with beaver skins and 1,160 otter pelts. Further encouraged, Baranov ordered Kuskov to return and establish a colony. After a failed attempt in 1811, Kuskov sailed the schooner Chirikof back to Rumyantzev Bay in 1812. Kuskov ended up selecting a place 15 miles (24 km) north of Rumyantzev Bay, a place that the native people called Mad shui nui or Metini.



The new colony soon proved useful, having a modest anchorage and an abundant of natural resources; encouraging the creation of Ross:Fort Ross:0. The fort was established to to become an agricultural base from which the northern settlements could be supplied with food and carry on trade with Spanish California. Though the Russian-American Company justified their actions by stating Fort Ross was well north of any Spanish settlement, the Spanish Empire continued to dispute the claim. Russia would soon continue to praise the project when the population across Russian America would grow exponentially between 1815 to 1820.

Eastward expansion
Beginning in the early 1820s, the growth of Russian commerce and culture in America has lead to greater exploration of the region, and talks of further expanding the empire eastward. In September 1821, would  Russia's claim in North America, extending Russia's sovereignty as far south as the, as well as the watershed of the. While both the United Kingdom:0:0 and the United States:0:0 would publicly challenge these claims, it would be Spain:0:0 who would actively condemn Russia's expansion.

On November 21, 1821, Spain launched five ships to the Ross Colony, demanding the withdraw of the colonists. When the Russians refused, the Battle of Fort Ross:0:0 began. Russian artillery was able to destroy one of the Spanish ships, but heavy damage to the fort and surrounding regions made it difficult for the Russians to defend a land invasion. The battle turned when the many Russian naval and merchant ships began to get involved. The naval ship Paul was able to destroy an additional Spanish ship, forcing the rest of the fleet to retreat to. Once word reach about the unprovoked Spanish attack, the Russian Empire declared war the Kingdom of Spain, leading to the start of the Russo-Spanish War:0:0.



For the first year of fighting, the war seemed to favor a Spanish victory. In June 1822, Russian and Spanish ships fought for the control of the Spanish-controlled port of (well within Russian territory), with Spain able to hold their ground, forcing Russian ships to retreat. The war would soon take a drastic turn by the end of 1822, in which Russia began secret talks with revolutionaries in the Mexico:Viceroyalty of New Spain:0. Alexander Baranov:0:0 believed that supporting and even assisting the Mexican cause could shift Spain's war into a two-front conflict. In 1823, Russian General and a battalion of a hundred men were sent to southern Mexico to fight alongside the revolutionaries of Mexico (becoming known as Saint Andrew's Battalion:0:0). The turning battle in the Russo-Spanish war was the successful Russian capturing of, severing Spain's northernmost port in New Spain. Spanish troops would surrender to the Russians several days after the Mexican revolutionaries capture in January 1824.



Russia would emerge as one of the major colonial powers in North America, gaining all of Spain's claims in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Border disputes would soon break out between the United Kingdom:0:0 and the United States:0:0. The United States recognized Russia's vast claim in exchange not to expand further into North America, and allowing the continuation of American commerce in the region. The UK was more defiant towards the Russians, demanding Russia relinquish it's claim south of the. Russia would agree to recognize the as the border between Russian Oregon:0:0 and Columbia:British Columbia:0, but would not agree to leave it's claims north of the 51st parallel. Because of this, the disputed land (which the British would come to know as New Caledonia:0:0) would remain disputed until the 1860s.

Golden Era
The discovery of gold along the in 1849 would lead to the population boom for the region. Many Russians and Russian subjects would flock Sonoma:0:0 to get rich. By 1860, the settlements of Ross:0:0 and had become major ports in the Pacific, ranking along with  and. While the southern claims would boom in population and economy, the northern colonies would remain bare and unpopulated until the rise of the and the constructions of railroads. The northern port of would go from a minor trading port into the industrial capital of Russian America within a matter of decades.



The expansion jobs and works projects would lead to further population growth in Russian America. Among the major projects included the constructions of the Russian-American Telegraph:0:0 (which connected North America to Asia and Europe by means of the ), and the Alaska and Columbia Railroad:0:0 (which connected Nushagak:0:0 to Ross:0:0 through Columbia:0:0). Population growth would remain slow in the northernmost half of Russian America, as most new settlers remained either in the south or near the coast. The same affected the British settlers in Columbia and Vancouver Island. Because of which, the United Kingdom:0:0 offered to sell their Pacific coast colonies to Russia, in what would become known as the Columbia Purchase:0:0. As part of the purchase, Russia allowed the continuation of the English culture in Columbia, which would remain to this day.



The northern portions of Russian America would soon grow in population with the discovery of gold along the. Due to the colder climate, it would be decades before railroads or roads connecting the north to the coast would be built. Because of which, would become the most popular means of transportation in the Yukon and Bering coast. This tradition remains strong in northern Alaska, and has evolved into a symbol of northern expansion.

Independence
By the beginning of the 20th century, Russian America had a large population, a thriving economy, and an industrial power that made many in the region look in envy. With the rise of political change across the world, Russia would be no different. Beginning in the late 1880s, a movement known as Nasha Amerika:0:0 (: Наша Америка, "Our America") began to preach the words of regional autonomy and independence for the Russian colonies in America. Prior to the movements, Russia has already allowed greater autonomy for Russian America (due primarily to their further distance from Saint Petersburg), and the movement for independence didn't seem to gain a much of a negative reaction from the monarchy.

Beginning in July 1897, negotiations began on the future of Russian America. As agreed by both sides, Russian America would gain independence as commonwealth of the Empire, in which they continue to recognize the Tsar of Russia as the head of state, but allowed greater autonomy on their government and laws. The only issue was how to go about the independence. While Russia wanted it to remain one nation, the huge differences between the more industrial north and the rural and agricultural south lead to a greater divide. Because of which, Russian America would be divided into two new nations, the Commonwealth of Alaska:0:0 and the Commonwealth of Oregon:0:0.

During the brief period of independence, Alaska and Oregon would continue to grow as industrial powers in the region. Along with closer cooperation with Japan:0:0, Mexico:0:0, the United Kingdom:0:0, and the United States:0:0; the two nations would continue to become a melting pots of cultures.

Civil War
Because of their independence and far distance from Europe, Alaska and Oregon remained neutral during the. The peace would end in 1917 with the beginning of the and the rise of extremism in Europe and Asia. Shortly after the announcement of abdication of the thrown, Oregon declared their independence as the Republic of Oregon. Alaska retained their support for the motherland until the beginning of the, in which the take power in Russia. After which, Alaska would break out into civil war between pro-Tsarists, pro-Bolsheviks, and the right wing radicals.

While Oregon would remain unaffected by radicalism, the rise of regionalism and semi-nationalism would lead to the collapse of the Republic of Oregon. In 1919, the English-speaking regions of Oregon and Alaska declare their independence as the Columbia:Republic of New Albion:0, while Sonoma would declare independence as the Sonoma:Republic of Sonoma:0. The remaining portions of Oregon would remain united as the Oregon:United Republic of Oregon:0, with the English-speaking portions in the east (modern day Idaho) gaining autonomy within the nation.



Fighting in the north would remain regional until 1923, when the Nushagak Soviet:0:0 declare the establishment of the Alaskan Socialist Republic:0:0 (the first [and only] constitutional socialist state in North America). Shortly after, the conservative regions of Alaska (centered in Ninilchik and New Archangel) agreed to unite under the Democratic Republic of New Russia:0:0. The early years of the DRNR is highly controversial, as many see its government as being an early example of nationalism and even fascism.

By the later 1920s, the rise of centrism and moderates would help bring New Russia from becoming a hardline nation. Young leaders such as Igor Durganin:0:0 and Veniamin Orlov:0:0 would take the stage in the establishment of what would become the Alaskan Democratic Federative Republic. Beginning in 1929, originally planned to help counteract any potential communist invasion of North America, New Russia and Oregon agree further integrate themselves together. It wouldn't be until 1931 that the two would agree to unite as a single, federal nation which would become known as the Alaskan Democratic Federative Republic. The name Alaska was purposely used to declare the new government's rejection of the communist government in Nushagak, as well as its support for a complete reunification of Russian America. With growing cooperation, New Albion and Sonoma would soon join the federation. Beginning in 1938, the ADFR launches an operation to liberate the north. By November, the communist government was fleeing to the Soviet Union (which would remain in exile until it is merged into the Soviet government in the 1940s).

Political subdivisions

 * Main article: Governorates of Alaska:0:0 and New Archangel:0:0



The Alaskan Democratic Federative Republic is a federation made up of 18 governorates (: губернии, gubernii; singular: губерния, guberniya) and one federal district (федеральный округ, federalny okrug). Like any federation, each governorate of Alaska are allowed to govern and control the affairs within their borders, while allowing the federal government control of foreign affairs. The term governorate was often translated as province in several languages (especially in colonial English). The governorate of Vancouver:0:0 officially calls itself the Province of Vancouver, rather than a governorate. This naming is only for historical purposes, and is considered similar to how four United States:States of the United States of America:0 refer to themselves as commonwealths.

Demographics

 * Largest cities


 * 1) Ross:0:0 (3,792,621)
 * 2)  (1,536,471)
 * 3) Nushagak:0:0 (1,473,754)
 * 4)  (1,326,179)
 * 5) New Archangel:0:0 (967,487)
 * 6)  (827,609)
 * 7)  (797,434)
 * 8)  (620,778)
 * 9)  (619,968)
 * 10)  (617,996)
 * 11)  (609,644)
 * 12)  (593,820)
 * 13)  (472,178)
 * 14)  (432,427)
 * 15)  (360,740)
 * 16)  (295,570)
 * 17)  (261,025)
 * 18)  (195,314)
 * 19)  (154,637)
 * 20)  (127,473)