Ukase of 1821 facts for kids

The Ukase of 1821 was a special order or law made by the Russian government. It was a big announcement that Russia was claiming a huge area of land in northwestern North America. This area is mostly what we know today as Alaska and a large part of the Pacific Northwest.

This important order, called a ukase, was announced on September 4, 1821.

What the Ukase Said

The Ukase of 1821 had two main parts.

Russian Claims and Rules

The first part of the ukase said that only Russian people could do business like whaling, fishing, and fur trading in this large area. This area included many islands, ports, and bays along the northwest coast of North America. It stretched south to a line on the map called 45°50′ north latitude. This meant Russia wanted to control all trade and activities there.

The second part of the ukase made a strict rule for other countries. It said that no foreign ships were allowed to land on Russian-claimed coasts or islands. They also couldn't come closer than about 100 Italian miles (which is about 185 kilometers or 115 miles) to these areas. If a foreign ship broke this rule, it could be taken by Russia, along with everything it was carrying!

Changing Borders

Russia's claim originally went quite far south, even past the mouth of the Columbia River. But other countries, especially the U.S.A. and Great Britain, quickly protested.

Because of these protests, Russia changed its southern border claim. It moved it northward to 51° N latitude. This line was sometimes called "the line of the Emperor Paul." It had been used before in an earlier Russian order from 1799. Later, around 1802, this line was moved even further north to 55° N latitude. The 51° N latitude line is roughly near the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

American and British leaders were very upset about the Ukase of 1821. They pointed out that their ships had been trading furs in places like Sitka Sound long before Russia made this big claim. The British also reminded everyone that famous explorers like Captains Cook and Vancouver had explored the region before Russia claimed it. The British even argued that their ships were the first to start the fur trade in that area.

Solving the Problem

The protests led to many talks and meetings between Russia, Great Britain, and the U.S.A. These discussions resulted in two important agreements: the Russo-American Treaty of 1824 and the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1825.

In these treaties, Russia agreed to give up all its claims south of 54°40′ N latitude. This specific line was suggested by the British. Russia wanted to keep all of Prince of Wales Island, which is why the line was set at 54°40′ N latitude (the southern tip of the island).

The British were very concerned about being able to sail freely in the North Pacific Ocean. The 1825 agreement also created a rule about a "lisière." This was a somewhat unclear strip of land along the coast, extending about 10 leagues (about 55 kilometers or 34 miles) inland from the sea. The agreement also talked about the sea border north of Prince of Wales Island. These details later became very important in the Alaska boundary dispute, which was a disagreement about the border that lasted from 1821 to 1903.

What Happened Next

Russia only tried to enforce the Ukase of 1821 once. In 1822, a Russian ship called the Apollon stopped an American ship named the Pearl. The Pearl was on its way from Boston to Novoarkhangelsk (which is now Sitka, Alaska).

When the American government protested this action, the Pearl was released. Russia even paid money to the U.S.A. because the ship had been held.

The United States also responded to Russia's 1821 ukase in a big way. In 1823, President James Monroe announced the Monroe Doctrine. This was a very important statement about how the U.S.A. viewed European countries trying to claim new land in the Americas.