The history of the United States of America is not only filled with battle pages, but also with examples of how diplomacy and money can change the map of the world more effectively than cannons. Some of the most famous territorial acquisitions of the USA happened not through wars, but through agreements that had a huge impact on the history of the entire planet.
Today we will tell you about some of these stories that prove: sometimes it’s better to sell than to fight.
How Russia “got rid of” Alaska: a profitable sale or a big mistake?
Imagine selling something valuable because you cannot hold onto it, and then realizing it’s a treasure! That’s exactly what happened to the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
In 1866, when Alexander II was ruling the empire, the Russian government decided to sell Alaska to the United States. The reason was simple – although Alaska was rich in resources, defending it from other states and developing these remote territories of Russia was difficult and expensive.
So in 1867, the deal happened – the USA purchased Alaska for $7.2 million (that’s about 2 cents per acre!). Interestingly, the check for this amount was made out to the name of the Russian diplomat in the USA, Eduard Stoeckl.
Initially, Americans even joked about this purchase, calling it “Seward’s Folly” – in honor of Secretary of State William Seward, who organized the deal. However, the laughter stopped when huge deposits of gold, oil, and other valuable minerals were discovered in Alaska. And only in 1959 did this cold land officially become the 49th state of the USA.
Hawaiian Islands: kingdom, revolution, and annexation to the USA
Hawaii is not just about heavenly beaches and surfing. It used to be an independent kingdom with its own traditions and rulers. However, in the 19th century, the USA gradually began to strengthen its influence on the islands, especially through American businessmen who heavily invested in sugar plantations.
In 1893, with the support of the United States, a coup took place in Hawaii, resulting in the overthrow of the monarchy. Instead of a kingdom, the Republic of Hawaii emerged, which officially joined the U.S. five years later. However, Hawaii did not become a full-fledged 50th state until 1959.
This peaceful annexation process was not without disputes, but for the U.S., it was a strategic move that made Hawaii an important base in the Pacific Ocean.
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines: Consequences of the War with Spain
Not all of the U.S.’s territorial acquisitions happened peacefully, but even after wars, they often resolved matters through money.
In 1898, after the victory in the war against Spain, the U.S. signed the Treaty of Paris. Under its terms, America gained control of Guam and Puerto Rico. Additionally, the U.S. purchased the Philippines for $20 million.
However, things were not as simple. The Philippines long sought independence, which they eventually achieved in 1946.
Is it More Profitable to Sell?
These stories prove that territories are not always acquired through warfare. Sometimes diplomacy, money, and strategic thinking can change the map of the world more effectively than armies.
For Russia, selling Alaska was a strategic mistake that many regret to this day. Hawaii showed how external influence can alter a country’s political system, while the Philippines remind us of the complexity of imperial ambitions.
The U.S. acquired these territories without major conflicts and won strategically and economically. And although not all these stories were completely peaceful, they show that sometimes it is more advantageous to sell than to wage war.
This principle remains relevant today, as the world increasingly values diplomacy and economic agreements over military conflicts.
Interested in learning more about such agreements? Subscribe and follow the upcoming episodes of our series “Better to Sell than to Fight?”!
Read about the history of the largest real estate purchase – the state of Louisiana – by the U.S. government in the first part of the series “Better to Sell Than to Fight? – territorial acquisitions as a transition from war to peaceful land grabbing”:
Read about the history of Florida annexation and the conditions that preceded it in the second part of the series “Better to sell than to fight? – territorial acquisitions as a transition from wars to peaceful land grabbing”:
Read about the annexation of Florida and Texas to the USA in the third part of the series “Better to sell than to fight?”:
Read the fourth part of the “Better to sell than to fight?” series here:
