Russians in America творческая работа

МУНИЦИПАЛЬНОЕ БЮДЖЕТНОЕ ОБЩЕОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ «СРЕДНЯЯ ОБЩЕОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНАЯ ШКОЛА №1

Г.ПЕТРОВСКА САРАТОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ»

Исследовательская работа по английскому языку

«Russians in America»

Выполнил работу

ученик 10 А класса

Теряев Андрей

Руководитель: учитель

английского языка  Бекетова И.В.

Петровск

2017

                               Contents

1. Introduction ……………………………………… 3
2. Russian America…………………………………  4  

1. The development of Alaska ……………  4
2. The relationship with the native people …5
3. Novo-Archangelsk, the capital of Russian

 Alaska ……………….…………………..   7

4. Russian California. Fort Ross…………  8
5. The first Russian school in Alaska……  9

3. Conclusion……………………………………10

List of Sources………………………………  11

1.   Introduction

                  The development of Alaska

        There is a wide spread opinion that America belongs only to Americans and it have always been so. Indeed, the Englishmen, French, Italians and Spanish invaded the two continents of America and after some bloody battles shared it between themselves. It’s history. Everybody knows that, but… Few people know about the exploration by Russians of Alaska and much fewer about the Russian California. Nowadays we took it in a habit that Alaska and California are the stats of the USA, big and powerful country but it wasn’t forever.

      Members of a command of a boat «St. Gabriel» under supervision of geodesist M.S.Gvozdev and captain I.Fedorov during A.F.Shestakov and D.I. Pavlutskogo's expedition of 1729-1735 were the first Europeans who have visited Alaska on August, 21st, 1732. Since July, 9th 1799 on October, 18th, 1867 Alaska with islands adjoining to it was under control of the Russian-American company. Aleuts, Eskimos, occupied Alaska in those days. And in the south of Alaska there lived three native nationalities Tlingit,  Haida and Tsimshian. Or they can be called simply Indians. In 1795 A.A. Baranov, a future governor, on a vessel "Olga" has firstly visited Alaska. He was very clever and loyal man and was be able to regulate all the conflicts with native population. The history of Russian America started here. It developed very difficult but surely. The fort had been founded by Alexander Baranov was burnt several times. Russian ships were often attacked by Japanese and Russian  industrialists suffered a lot from English and French spies. But in spite of all the difficulties Russian America existed and new territories continuoued to be developed.

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                                    II. Russian America

                  The development of Alaska

       The main aim of  development by Russian of Alaska was the expansion of trade grounds and only then increase the territory of borders of  Russian state. Small groups of furs’ traders have directed on small courts at first to the Aleutian islands. Since 1740th years and till the end of XVIII century more than 40 Russian merchants and the companies undertook travel to the Aleutian islands and further to coast of Alaska. "The Aleutian ridge" was some kind of the bridge on which Russian have come from Kamchatka to America.  In the summer of 1760 the industrialist Gabriel Pushkarev has stepped into the earth which it has accepted for island. In the report he named this earth an Aleutian word “Alaska”. Has wintered on southwest coast, G.Pushkarev became the first Russian inhabitant on the American continent.

    On the 3 of August, 1784 Russian expedition has reached southern coast of Alaska by three ships - «St. Simeon», «St. Michael» and «Three prelates». Over expedition the industrialist and the founder of "the Northeast company» Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov (1747-1795) supervised. The purpose was serious - to locate on the American coast. As an advanced post on the American coast the island Kadiak has been chosen.

    The island as the base was chosen for safety reasons. On the continent hostility adjusted Indians lived.  Having subdued and partially exterminated radical inhabitants of Kadiak, Russians began to be proved. Russian expansion on the continent from here has started to develop. 1791 on the American continent St. Nikolay's fort has already been based. In 1792/1793 the expedition of industrialist Vasily Ivanov has reached the bank of the river Yukon

     In September, 1794 Kadiak there has arrived the orthodox mission in structure of 8 monks from Valaam and Konevsky monasteries and the Aleksandro-Neva Monastery led by archimandrite Ioasafom (since April, 10th, 1799 a bishop Kadjaksky) in the  island Kadiak . At once after arrival, missionaries have immediately started to erect a temple and to turn pagans into Orthodox faith. Since 1816 in Alaska married priests served too. Orthodox missionaries have brought the powerful contribution to the development of Russian America.

     Since  July, 9th 1799 to October, 18th, 1867 Alaska with islands adjoining to it was under the control of the Russian-American company. A.A.Baranov became the first governor of Alaska. For years of  Baranov's governing borders of Russian possession on Alaska have considerably extended, there were new Russian settlements. There were redoubts in Kenajsky and Chugatsky gulfs. Building of

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Novorossisk in gulf Yacutat has begun. In 1796, moving ahead to the south along the coast of America, Russians have reached the island named Sitka. The basis of

economy of Russian America was made by a craft of a sea animal (mostly eared seal) which was carried out with a support on Aleuts.

                      The relationship with the native people

       Alaska was settled by different tribes of Indians or “wilders” and “pagans” as they were called. Aleuts, Eskimos, occupied Alaska in those days. And in the south of Alaska there lived three native nationalities Tlingit,  Haida and Tsimshian. Eskimos lived in the very north of Alaska, mostly on the territory of Canada and Russians hadn’t many contacts with them. But Aleuts played a great role in Russian development of Alaska. They were much more peaceful than the other tribes of Indians. Their attitude to Russians was rather friendly. They were christened in Orthodoxy, received Russian names and Russian passports. So they became Mihails, Alexanders, Pavels, Olgas, Tatyanas, and Marias. They also considered themselves as Russians. It was possible to see Russian Orthodox icons in their poor huts. Aleuts helped Russians to develop and explore the new lands, to hunt, extract valuable furs that was very important for the Russian state and even took part in battles, protecting Russian fortress.

     The situation was quiet different with the other Indian tribe living on Russian territories. These were Tlingit or “Coloshes” as Russians called them because they had a custom to cut to themselves a lower lip and to insert into an aperture a shell or a piece of wood. It was done basically by women and leaders, it was a sign of “nobility” as it was possible to say about the wilders.

    Tlingit or “Coloshes”  is the American Indian tribe living already for several thousand of years in the southeast of Alaska and adjoining parts of Canada, up to the coast of Gulf of Mexico. In 1840th in America there were  to 14 000  Coloshes  of both sexes. Now in the USA and their Canada there live nearby 20 000 persons. Territory on which they have located, differs an unfriendly climate with constants dampness and rains. Our compatriots, having seen Coloshes for the first time, were horrified. Here is the description of Coloshes by Russian travellers: «These people differ strong, but extremely ugly and disproportionate constitution. Their black shining hair randomly hang down on cheekbones acting forward. On the massive face the wide and flat nose presents, the big mouth with thick lips is allocated. Despite large features, eyes  they have  small and black, burning wild fire. They have one advantage - surprisingly white teeth». But also it seemed to trailblazers a terrible show as a teeth sparkled on the extremely dark skin. It appears, they daily smeared the person and all body ochre and chernozem.

 It is necessary to tell, that to dances these severe people always tested the big passion. Dancers in frightening masks are turned round the fire with drum sounds, shaking by rattles. Spectators slap hands together as it is possible more loudly. Travellers were amazed with one more feature of these savages : they at all were not afraid of  cold and put on equally both in the strongest heat, and in a winter icy

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cold. The climate of these places is severe enough and great frosts are not a rarity. Even in the winter they walked about practically naked. If froze, it applied a very strange way to be warmed they fell on a neck to cold water. They liked to spend the night open-air, on hot ashes of a fire. Truths, that was necessary to turn from time to time thus on one, on other side not to scorch. “More angrily than the wild animals "," the people terrible and malicious "," bloody barbarians "- in such expressions responded about Coloshes Russian trailblazers. And they had reasons for that.

    As the weapon soldiers of Coloshes, dressed in the reservation from a skin and a tree, used onions and arrows, heavy spears, and also iron and copper daggers. In 1792 on the island Hinchinbruk there was a confrontation with uncertain result: the leader of the party of industrialists and the future governor of Alaska Alexander Baranov hardly was not lost, Indians have receded, but Russian have not dared to be fixed on island and also have sailed on island Kadiak. Tlinkit soldiers have been dressed in wattled wooden clothes, raincoats of the elk’s skin and beastlike helmets (apparently, from skulls of animals). Indians have been armed by mainly cold and throwing weapon.

   But the time passed and armed conflicts between Russians and locals were beneficial for Japanese, English and Spanish. They provided Coloshes with weapon. (After the  victory over Napoleon, when all the world recognized Russia as strong and powerful state, they were afraid to attack openly and used  Indians for the purposes) If at the attack on Baranova's party in 1792  Coloshes  did not apply fire-arms yet, in 1794 they had a set of guns, and also decent stocks of an ammunition and gunpowder. After several small skirmishes with small groups of wilders which were headed by young military leader Katlean, Alexander Andreevich Baranov concludes the contract with the leader of a tribe, about acquisition of the land for the building of a trading station. The Leader was christened, and his name became Michael. Baranov was his godfather. Soon after that  all family of the leader was christened and the majority of  Coloshes living in territory of Alaska too.

     Coloshes from other clans, visiting Sitka after the termination there military actions, sneered at its inhabitants and «were praised by the freedom». The largest quarrel has occurred at Easter 1800, however, thanks to A.A.Baranova's resolute actions, bloodsheds managed to be avoided.

    In spite of the fact that Coloshes had a wide experience of dialogue with Europeans, relations between Russian settlers and natives more and more became aggravated, that has led, finally, to long bloody war. However, such result at all was not only ridiculous accident or a consequence of intrigues of artful foreigners as not there were these events is generated and unique natural bloodthirstiness «furious Coloshes ». On a war track them have deduced other, deeper reasons.

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               Novo-Archangelsk, the capital of Russian Alaska

      In the summer of 1804 the governor of Russian possession in America A.A. Baranov has gone to the island Kadiak with 150 industrialists and 500 Aleuts on the kayaks and with the ships «Ermak», "Alexander", "Ekaterina" and «Rostislav». Here the new fortress, the future capital of Russian America has been put in pawn. It was Novo-Archangelsk. On the bank of a gulf, there, where there was an old American Indian village, on an eminence, strengthening, and then the house of the Governor which was named by Indians – the castle of Baranov has been constructed.

    The city on the bank of a nonfreezing Sithinsky gulf has been protected from the sea by mountains. In the descriptions of the town the mountain Echkomb , the extinct volcano, located over a gulf is mentioned. In building the fur-tree was used. In the K.T.Hlebnikova's certificate, «woods contain a lot of humidity … soon indulge in rotting. Their durability cannot be more than 20 years».After moving of administration of the Russian-American company the city at a fortress began to grow. Under the statement of the English seaman Peter Korneja who has visited these places in 1810th years, it is consisted of a fort on a grief and settlements from 60 wooden houses, and also churches, blockgous and shipyards. Each house had the kitchen garden with plantings of a potato, carrots, a garden radish, turnip and other vegetables. As K.T.Hlebnikov, in 1818 informs all constructions, except for the commodity "shop", constructed by A.A.Baranov, «have decayed and are broken or by all means should break». But in spite of all evils  Novo-Archangelsk lived and grew.

     In 1822 the new house for the governor who settled down in a fortress has been constructed. Roofs of the flat form laid from the iron brought from St.-Petersburg. The paint delivered in 1820 intended for protection of houses against premature rotting. Except a climate, the inhabitants of the town suffered from the rats ruining shops and warehouses bothered. For struggle against rodents of a design of buildings were upholstered  with lead. The house of the governor and barracks has been covered by iron

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Russian merchants had no possibilities to deliver on here serfs. Thus, the great bulk of the population of the American colonies was made by employees of the Russian-American company whom «colonial citizens» have deserved the status of free estate under the name. Eventually many of them began to create families with representatives of the local people. Children from such mixed marriages were called as Creoles

                             Russian California. Fort Ross

       Advancement of the Russian-American company in a southern direction which became in 1800th a strategic problem, required  support from Russian government. At the  Russian-American company there were no forces for success in similar expansion. It was a question of employment of the coast of New Albion by Russian empire, Oregon and Northern California.  Such step to a combination to scaring away «Bostonres» and opening the trade with Canton and the Spanish California, according to Baranov, should provide prosperity of the Russian-American company and Russia at the whole.

     In the beginning of 1811 Baranov, having received Alexander's II permission,  directed to California the expedition under Ivan Kuskov's command. To the greatest regret of Spaniards Russians have been given by the Californian Indians very  cordial welcome. Indians met them very warmly, called “brothers” In February, 1812, having received the long-awaited message from Petersburg, Baranov has immediately sent new expedition to base a colony. 25 persons of Russian workmen and about 80-90 Aleuts have gone with Ivan Kuskov  . He has dared to base a colony of 15 versts above the river Slavjanki. Building of walls has begun on March, 15th, 1812. To build it was heavy, despite the fact that the wood was very close, but it was difficult to transfer logs to the manual. The party of settlers cut wood and built walls, others dragged trees from wood. By the end of August they have enclosed a place of a fortress with walls, on two opposite corners have erected 2 two-storeyed bastions in which people firstly lived. Walls of a fort looked solidly and impressively, they had height of 3,5 metres and have been constructed of heavy thick executioner's blocks about 20 sm thick. The fortress was named Ford Ross. The lay-out of the Fort-Ross in many respects reminded the wooden jails erected by Russian trailblazers in Siberia. Walls of a fort and the majority, the constructions located in it have been made of a sequoia. Two a little acting towers allowed to conduct supervision over approaches to all four walls of a fort. For defence of settlement  12 guns were established Thus, the idea of Russian California has started to be embodied during a life. For the settlement based so far from other Russian colonies, relations with the

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neighbors got special importance. Safety of Ross was defined in many respects

 by relations with Indians and Spaniards. The world and the union with Indians was pledge of safety not only settlement, but also the serious factor in interstate relations as it allowed Russia to be fixed in this region. The company simply had no significant amount of people that force to confirm behind itself the new lands. The version of Russian party here was such: Russian colonize the lands which have been not occupied with other powers, with the consent of the local population which has voluntary conceded to them of the land for a colony, and natives not only are independent of Spain, but also are at enmity with Spaniards. As a whole this version corresponded to a real state of affairs. Therefore Baranov in instructions constantly marked necessity to arrange Californians to Russians. Local residents looked much more peaceful and less aggressive and numerous than tribes belonging to economic-cultural type of northwest coast. They were weaker armed, and also smaller. It became one of factors which defined a place of a choice of settlement.

      On September, 22nd, 1817  an official meeting with the neighboring American Indian leaders, recorded by the special certificate (has remained in a copy) which was signed by Gagemeyster, Kuskov and a number of officials from "Kutuzov"  has taken place in Ross. Chiefs of Indians  Chu-gu-an participated in a meeting, Amat-tan, Gem-le-le with others. The conversation was conducted through the translator. Chus-gu-an and Amat-tan  answered, that they are very happy with employment of this place by Russians, providing their safety. Then Chu-gu-an was awarded with a silver medal «Allied Russia».

     Thus, legality of stay of Russians in California, a concession of the land under settlement proved to be true. Indians expressed loyalty to Russian and satisfaction character of relations. The document had diplomatic value, being argument in dispute with Spain. Spaniards could be convinced, that, contrary to their protest, the Russian-American company owned Fort-Ross "lawfully", and did not offend Indians.

                         The first Russian school in Alaska

     The development of a  new continent went side by side with the dissemination of culture. The first Russian school and library at it  appeared in 1784-1786 in the territory of Alaska thanks to diligence of an outstanding merchant and seafarer Grigory Shelihov. The school based by him on Kadiak had 286 units of the educational, technical and humanitarian literature brought from Moscow and Ohotsk. In 1805 on the basis of it the school with two classes of formation which visited to 100 pupils  has been created.

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      The city Novo-Archangelsk was cultural capital of possession of Russian empire in America. The set of educational institutions, among which there worked: «the General school of the Russian-American colonies» (it is founded in 1859), school for workmen and clerks, school for girls, spiritual seminary (it is founded in 1841) It’s known a practice of sending of the most talented local pupils for the further study to Russia. The colonial administration applied considerable efforts for education of the subdued local people. With the establishment in 1796 of  Orthodox mission distribution of Russian culture among natives was accelerated. Together with a christening representatives of the native people received Russian name and a surname. Many of them made efforts for training of fellow tribesmen to the Russian reading and writing and bases of Christianity. At each church the tserkovno-parish school with library took place.

    As a whole the population of Russian America differed high level of literacy . The book luggage of the average inhabitant included the church literature, editions on the exact sciences, and also newspapers and magazines brought from both capitals

                   III. Conclusion

     By time of the beginning of action of our narration the borders of Russian possession in Alaska have considerably extended, in farther California Fort Ross has been put in pawn. And wherever there were Russians - the History tells it, - they bore to the people the idea of the peace, friendship and  brotherhood for people on the Earth. Therefore also local native inhabitants, whether it be Indians or Aleuts, practically always showed friendliness to Russian people for extremely seldom met from their party any oppressions. They always helped with crafts, served as conductors and quite often preferred to erect the wigwams and huts next to Russian settlements. Separate cases of unfriendly actions of Indians in relation to Russians spoke first of all instigation of foreign merchants-mehotorgovtsev, so-called bostoners, aspiring to undermine influence of our compatriots. 

       Russian possession in America have been sold in 1867.  According to historians it was the unforgivable mistake which has weakened Russia.

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                 List of Sources

1. Крат И. – Великий океан – Москва – Издательство «Правда» - 1989

2.