Alaska is the 49th state of the United States. However, it was a part of Russia till 1867.

154 years ago, Russia had to sell Alaska to America at a meagre price of $7.2 million. But now, the estimated GDP of Alaska is estimated to be around $50 billion.&nbsp;

When the Alaska Purchase Treaty was signed Russia's expansion in the Pacific coast stopped in the North American continent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alaskas-famous-fish-salmon-getting-smaller-due-to-climate-change-study-417842">Also read |&nbsp;Alaska's famous fish, Salmon, getting smaller due to climate change: Study</a>

Even though the negotiation for the country went on for decades, the US emerged as the ''great power'' in Asia-Pacific.

US Secretary of State William Seward had played a crucial role in the treaty signed by US President Andrew Johnson.

But why did Russia need to sell Alaska which is filled which natural resources? Let's take a look:

History of Russia in Alaska

In the 16th century, Russia's total land area was just a fraction of what it is today.

However, its eastern land expansion plan led to the country owning Alaska. The tributaries located in the region helped in the growth of commerce.

In 1581, Russia captured the Khanate of Sibir, which marked the beginning of its conquest of Siberia.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-the-hottest-month-to-biggest-airlift-here-are-the-biggest-records-of-2021-434088" hreflang="en">From the hottest month to biggest airlift: Here are the biggest records of 2021</a>

Russian emperor Peter the Great was very curious about the Asian landmass. He started two explorations from the city of Okhotsk.

In 1741, Vitus Bering crossed the Bering Strait and reached Alaska. After this, he went to Mount Saint Elias and Yakutat.

However, he died in December 1741 due to scurvy during the second Kamchatka expedition itself.

His crew near the Aleutian Islands found hundreds of sea otters, foxes, and fur seals which acted as a silver lining of the otherwise tumultuous journey due to adverse weather.

Unlike today, back then Alaska had a fatal climate. Total only 800 Russian citizens inhabited the island and it was also located far off the Russian capital of St. Petersburg.

In 1812, Russians built a settlement at Fort Ross on the Western Coast of the US.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/melting-glaciers-are-contributing-to-earthquakes-in-alaska-research-finds-372046">Also read |&nbsp;Melting glaciers are contributing to earthquakes in Alaska, research finds</a>

After the Russian department of American exploration failed, Moscow became worried about the prospects of Russian settlements in Alaska.

The Crimean War fought from 1853 to 1856, acted as the final nail in the coffin as Russia lost to an alliance of the Ottoman Empire.

Due to the depleting coffers and 12,000 casualties in the war, Russia decided to sell Alaska.

Crimean War (1853-1856)

Russia wanted to control Balkan countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Crimea. They were a part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1850s.

Russia's desire to protect the Christians in the Muslim majority Ottoman Empire led to the Crimean War.

When it invaded Romania in July 1853, Turkey declared war in which was supported by Britain and France as they wanted to destroy Russian naval power in the Black Sea.

The Crimean War came to end in 1856 when the Treaty of Paris was signed due to Austria growing resistance.

Russia was America's ally

Due to shared dislike for the British Empire, Russia and the United States were allies in the 1800s.&nbsp;

This was one of the reasons why Russia approached the United States with the Alaska deal.

Negotiations on the Alaska deal started between Russia and the US soon after Washington stabilised post-Civil War.

Russia sent a team of surveyors to Alaska to estimate the value of natural resources. They estimated its cost be $10 million.

Despite being advised not to sell Alaska, Russia informed the US about the price it wanted for the country.

However, after negotiating the deal was fixed the price of $7.2 million.

US President Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, during the negotiations itself and Andrew Johnson took over the Alaska deal when he was elected as the new president.

Alaska treaty

Russia had offered to sell Alaska to the US in 1859. But it was busy with the Civil war.

Steward and Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl came to an agreement that the US would pay $7.2 million to Russia.

The US Senate approved the deal on April 9, 1867, and thereafter US President Andrew Johnson signed the Alaska Treaty on May 1867.

Russia formally transferred Alaska to the US on October 18, 1867. This ended Russia's presence in North America and handed the US the key to the Pacific northern rim.

For three decades, the US did not pay much attention to the region and it was governed through military, naval, and treasury rules.

In 1884, the US established a civil government in the region and also imposed mining laws.

The Alaska deal was initially considered a loss for the US and was famously called ''Seward's Folly.''

But in 1896, Yukon found major reserves of gold in Alaska, and then the successive exploration led to the discovery of massive mineral resources.

These gold deposits acted as a gateway to the Klondike Gold Fields. Alaska's strategic importance was highlighted in World War II. It got the status of a state on January 3, 1959.

Alaska is the 49th state of the United States. However, it was a part of Russia till 1867. 154 years ago, Russia had to sell Alaska to America at a meagre price of $7.

Alaska is the 49th state of the United States. However, it was a part of Russia till 1867. 154 years ago, Russia had to sell Alaska to America at a meagre price of $7.2 million. But now, the estimated GDP of Alaska is estimated to be around $50 billion. When the Alaska Purchase Treaty was signed Russia's expansion in the Pacific coast stopped in the North American continent. Also read | Alaska's famous fish, Salmon, getting smaller due to climate change: Study Even though the negotiation for the country went on for decades, the US emerged as the ''great power'' in Asia-Pacific. US Secretary of State William Seward had played a crucial role in the treaty signed by US President Andrew Johnson. But why did Russia need to sell Alaska which is filled which natural resources? Let's take a look: History of Russia in Alaska In the 16th century, Russia's total land area was just a fraction of what it is today. However, its eastern land expansion plan led to the country owning Alaska. The tributaries located in the region helped in the growth of commerce. In 1581, Russia captured the Khanate of Sibir, which marked the beginning of its conquest of Siberia. Also see | From the hottest month to biggest airlift: Here are the biggest records of 2021 Russian emperor Peter the Great was very curious about the Asian landmass. He started two explorations from the city of Okhotsk. In 1741, Vitus Bering crossed the Bering Strait and reached Alaska. After this, he went to Mount Saint Elias and Yakutat. However, he died in December 1741 due to scurvy during the second Kamchatka expedition itself. His crew near the Aleutian Islands found hundreds of sea otters, foxes, and fur seals which acted as a silver lining of the otherwise tumultuous journey due to adverse weather. Unlike today, back then Alaska had a fatal climate. Total only 800 Russian citizens inhabited the island and it was also located far off the Russian capital of St. Petersburg. In 1812, Russians built a settlement at Fort Ross on the Western Coast of the US. Also read | Melting glaciers are contributing to earthquakes in Alaska, research finds After the Russian department of American exploration failed, Moscow became worried about the prospects of Russian settlements in Alaska. The Crimean War fought from 1853 to 1856, acted as the final nail in the coffin as Russia lost to an alliance of the Ottoman Empire. Due to the depleting coffers and 12,000 casualties in the war, Russia decided to sell Alaska. Crimean War (1853-1856) Russia wanted to control Balkan countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Crimea. They were a part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1850s. Russia's desire to protect the Christians in the Muslim majority Ottoman Empire led to the Crimean War. When it invaded Romania in July 1853, Turkey declared war in which was supported by Britain and France as they wanted to destroy Russian naval power in the Black Sea. The Crimean War came to end in 1856 when the Treaty of Paris was signed due to Austria growing resistance. Russia was America's ally Due to shared dislike for the British Empire, Russia and the United States were allies in the 1800s. This was one of the reasons why Russia approached the United States with the Alaska deal. Negotiations on the Alaska deal started between Russia and the US soon after Washington stabilised post-Civil War. Russia sent a team of surveyors to Alaska to estimate the value of natural resources. They estimated its cost be $10 million. Despite being advised not to sell Alaska, Russia informed the US about the price it wanted for the country. However, after negotiating the deal was fixed the price of $7.2 million. US President Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, during the negotiations itself and Andrew Johnson took over the Alaska deal when he was elected as the new president. Alaska treaty Russia had offered to sell Alaska to the US in 1859. But it was busy with the Civil war. Steward and Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl came to an agreement that the US would pay $7.2 million to Russia. The US Senate approved the deal on April 9, 1867, and thereafter US President Andrew Johnson signed the Alaska Treaty on May 1867. Russia formally transferred Alaska to the US on October 18, 1867. This ended Russia's presence in North America and handed the US the key to the Pacific northern rim. For three decades, the US did not pay much attention to the region and it was governed through military, naval, and treasury rules. In 1884, the US established a civil government in the region and also imposed mining laws. The Alaska deal was initially considered a loss for the US and was famously called ''Seward's Folly.'' But in 1896, Yukon found major reserves of gold in Alaska, and then the successive exploration led to the discovery of massive mineral resources. These gold deposits acted as a gateway to the Klondike Gold Fields. Alaska's strategic importance was highlighted in World War II. It got the status of a state on January 3, 1959.

Why did Russia sell Alaska to the United States?

24 February in history: Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Cuba begins fight for independence and more

A dark cloud of impeachment has threatened President <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-democratic-congresswoman-should-apologize-to-america-237518&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2z5WmuMjjAhXN63MBHTx7BTE4ChAWMAN6BAgOEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw0hPftQsY_ekxSVDPZWQJZy">Donald Trump</a> for many months, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives, where any such effort to remove him from office would begin, divided about whether to proceed.

In American politics, few procedures are as arduous or as divisive as the Constitution's carefully balanced law for ousting a chief executive found to be unfit to serve.

No president has ever been removed as a direct result of it. One, President Richard Nixon, resigned before he could be&nbsp;removed. Two, presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate.

Since he took office in January 2017, Trump has been under investigation. A turning point came in mid-April with the release of a redacted version of a long-awaited report from former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

On Wednesday, Mueller will testify before two House committees about his report, with Democrats planning to focus the proceedings on Trump's conduct. The strategy, described by Democratic congressional aides, is intended to build support among Americans for Democrats' investigative agenda, possibly leading to impeachment proceedings.

The 448-page Mueller report explored an effort by Moscow to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election to help Trump win. It described contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russians but found insufficient evidence to establish that the Trump campaign and the Kremlin engaged in a criminal conspiracy.

The Mueller report also described numerous attempts by Trump and his advisers to impede Mueller's investigation but offered no conclusion on whether obstruction of justice was committed.

Trump has attacked Mueller, called his probe a "witch hunt" and scorned talk of impeachment as "dirty, filthy, disgusting."

Some lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House favour starting the impeachment process, but their leaders have resisted these demands. Last week, an impeachment resolution came to a vote on the House floor and was killed.

The Senate is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, meaning that any impeachment proceedings that might begin in the House would likely die in the Republican-controlled Senate, unless public sentiment was to shift dramatically in favour of removing the president.

About 45 per cent of Americans said Trump should be impeached in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May, up from 40 per cent in April.

WATCH:&nbsp;Somalis on Trump telling congresswomen 'go back'

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Here is how the impeachment process works.

Why impeachment? 
The founders of the United States created the office of the presidency and feared that its powers could be abused. So they included impeachment as a central part of the Constitution.

They gave the House "the sole power of impeachment;" the Senate, "the sole power to try all impeachments" and the chief justice of the Supreme Court the duty of presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate.

The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." What exactly that means is unclear. Historically, it can encompass corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings.

How does it work? 
Impeachment begins in the House, which debates and votes on whether to bring charges against the president via approval of an impeachment resolution, or "articles of impeachment," by a simple majority of the House's 435 members.

If the House approves such a resolution, a trial is then held in the Senate. House members act as the prosecutors; the senators as jurors; the chief justice presides. A two-thirds majority vote is required in the 100-member Senate to convict and remove a president. This has never happened.

Can the Supreme Court overturn? 
No. Trump has said on Twitter that he would ask the Supreme Court to intervene if Democrats tried to impeach him. But the founders explicitly rejected making a Senate conviction appealable to the federal judiciary.

Party breakdown in Congress? 
The House has 235 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one independent and two vacant seats. As a result, the Democrats could impeach Trump with no Republican support.

In 1998, when Republicans had a House majority, the chamber voted largely along party lines to impeach Clinton, a Democrat.

The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require 67 votes. So, for Trump to be impeached, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him.

Who becomes President if Trump is removed? 
In the unlikely event the Senate convicted Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would become president for the remainder of Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2021.

A dark cloud of impeachment has threatened President Donald Trump for many months, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives, where any such effort to remove him from office would begin, divided about whether to proceed.

A dark cloud of impeachment has threatened President Donald Trump for many months, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives, where any such effort to remove him from office would begin, divided about whether to proceed. In American politics, few procedures are as arduous or as divisive as the Constitution's carefully balanced law for ousting a chief executive found to be unfit to serve. No president has ever been removed as a direct result of it. One, President Richard Nixon, resigned before he could be removed. Two, presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate. Since he took office in January 2017, Trump has been under investigation. A turning point came in mid-April with the release of a redacted version of a long-awaited report from former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller. On Wednesday, Mueller will testify before two House committees about his report, with Democrats planning to focus the proceedings on Trump's conduct. The strategy, described by Democratic congressional aides, is intended to build support among Americans for Democrats' investigative agenda, possibly leading to impeachment proceedings. The 448-page Mueller report explored an effort by Moscow to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election to help Trump win. It described contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russians but found insufficient evidence to establish that the Trump campaign and the Kremlin engaged in a criminal conspiracy. The Mueller report also described numerous attempts by Trump and his advisers to impede Mueller's investigation but offered no conclusion on whether obstruction of justice was committed. Trump has attacked Mueller, called his probe a "witch hunt" and scorned talk of impeachment as "dirty, filthy, disgusting." Some lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House favour starting the impeachment process, but their leaders have resisted these demands. Last week, an impeachment resolution came to a vote on the House floor and was killed. The Senate is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, meaning that any impeachment proceedings that might begin in the House would likely die in the Republican-controlled Senate, unless public sentiment was to shift dramatically in favour of removing the president. About 45 per cent of Americans said Trump should be impeached in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May, up from 40 per cent in April. WATCH: Somalis on Trump telling congresswomen 'go back' × Here is how the impeachment process works. Why impeachment? The founders of the United States created the office of the presidency and feared that its powers could be abused. So they included impeachment as a central part of the Constitution. They gave the House "the sole power of impeachment;" the Senate, "the sole power to try all impeachments" and the chief justice of the Supreme Court the duty of presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate. The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." What exactly that means is unclear. Historically, it can encompass corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings. How does it work? Impeachment begins in the House, which debates and votes on whether to bring charges against the president via approval of an impeachment resolution, or "articles of impeachment," by a simple majority of the House's 435 members. If the House approves such a resolution, a trial is then held in the Senate. House members act as the prosecutors; the senators as jurors; the chief justice presides. A two-thirds majority vote is required in the 100-member Senate to convict and remove a president. This has never happened. Can the Supreme Court overturn? No. Trump has said on Twitter that he would ask the Supreme Court to intervene if Democrats tried to impeach him. But the founders explicitly rejected making a Senate conviction appealable to the federal judiciary. Party breakdown in Congress? The House has 235 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one independent and two vacant seats. As a result, the Democrats could impeach Trump with no Republican support. In 1998, when Republicans had a House majority, the chamber voted largely along party lines to impeach Clinton, a Democrat. The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require 67 votes. So, for Trump to be impeached, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him. Who becomes President if Trump is removed? In the unlikely event the Senate convicted Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would become president for the remainder of Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2021.

What it would take for US Congress to impeach Trump?

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Why did Russia sell Alaska to the United States?

24 February in history: Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Cuba begins fight for independence and more

What it would take for US Congress to impeach Trump?