How the US bought a huge chunk of Russia for just $7.2m – as the Kremlin threatens to take it back
It was, quite possibly, the single shrewdest business deal ever struck. Yet, at the time, few people gave the savvy politician behind it much credit at all. In fact, William H. Seward was ridiculed by some for signing the cheque. In the 157 years since then-US Secretary of State Seward increased US soil by over half a million square miles, his decision to push for the purchase of Alaska from Russia has been vindicated a thousand times over. For just $7.2m, America bought themselves a state. Easily their largest one. Not only that, but the land is rich in both gold and oil reserves. For just $130m in today’s money, the US invested not only financially, but weakened a rival and – by making moves in the Asia-Pacific region – continued their promotion to world superpower (Picture: Getty Images)