Russians in California
For the first decade of its history, Fort Ross was under the control of its founder I. A. Kuskov (1812-1821). At the same time, Baranov closely followed the formation of the Californian colony, giving detailed instructions on its structure. Ross was created as a fishing and future agricultural base, which was supposed to supply Alaska with food over time. At the same time, it was the southernmost outpost of the Russian-American Company in the south and a staging post for trade with the Californian Spaniards (later the Mexicans).
By 1814, all of the fort's major structures had been completed, many of which were new to California. It was in the Russian fortress Fort Ross that the first shipyard in the history of California was built. True, the California oak turned out to be a fragile material. The forest was damp and quickly began to rot. Therefore, the built ships (galiot "Rumyantsev", brig "Buldakov", brig "Volga" and brig "Kyakhta") did not last long. When the mistake became apparent, shipbuilding at Ross was halted. Another reason for the stop of shipbuilding in Ross was the lack of people. So, "Kyakhta", taking into account the previous mistakes, was built mainly from a pine forest, cut down far from the fortress. The timber was delivered by kayaks in tow to Ross, or it was carried and transported overland, in the fortress the timber was sawn and dried. There were not enough people for such a laborious work.
In Forte Ross, the first windmills in California were built, as well as the facilities necessary for the life and development of the settlement: a brick factory, a tannery, forges, stables, carpentry, locksmiths and shoemakers, a dairy farm, etc.
Agriculture has just begun to develop, and initially it could not provide for the inhabitants of the fortress. Therefore, the source of food was sea and land hunting. An important source of food (meat, salt) in the first decade and a half was the Spanish San Francisco. The most promising direction in the development of the Russian colony was agriculture. Kuskov, according to Khlebnikov, “loved gardening and was especially engaged in it, and therefore he always had an abundance of beets, cabbage, turnips, radishes, salads, peas and beans”; he also bred watermelons, melons and pumpkins. Successes in gardening allowed Kuskov to supply all arriving ships with greens, as well as salt and send a significant amount of beets and cabbage to Novo-Arkhangelsk. Potatoes were also grown, but the harvest was small. Under Kuskov, the beginning of gardening was also laid. Seedlings of fruit trees and flowers - apple, pear, cherry and rose were delivered from California. The first peach tree in Ross (from San Francisco) bore fruit as early as 1820, and vines from distant Lima (Peru) began to bear fruit in 1823. It should be noted that most of these fruit trees and vineyards were planted in this area - again for the first time in its history.
However, gardening and horticulture were to play only a supporting role. The main hopes were pinned on the development of cattle breeding and arable farming. But arable farming developed slowly and under Kuskovo played a secondary role, crops and yields were small. Only from the mid-1820s, grain farming became the leading branch of the colony. The second manager of Ross, Schmidt, has achieved significant success in agriculture. The good harvest enabled Ross to achieve self-sufficiency in grain for the first time. Cattle breeding also developed slowly. By the time the Kuskovs finished their affairs (in 1821), the number of livestock reached: horses - 21, cattle - 149, sheep - 698, pigs - 159 heads. The main problem in the development of arable farming, as in other areas, was the lack of experienced people. For the development of an agricultural colony, there was no main component - a peasant-grain grower.
The company sought to diversify the colony's activities by making the most of California's available resources, from minerals (including clay) to beekeeping. Various crafts and subsidiary trades developed in the colony, mainly aimed at export to Russian America and Spanish California. Ross's carpenters and coopers made various furniture, doors, frames, sequoia tiles, carts, wheels, barrels, "carriages with two wheels." Leathers were made, iron and copper were processed.
In a number of cases, Ross became the Russian Alaska source of inaccessible or not known there materials and products from them. Millstones and grindstones were made from local granite, syenite and sandstone. There was a lot of good clay in the vicinity of Ross: clay itself (in dry form in barrels) and especially bricks made from it in large quantities were exported to Novo-Arkhangelsk. The rich vegetation of California was widely used, from the trees they used primarily sequoia (in California, the Russians began to call it the word "chaga", which had taken root in the colonies earlier). The area around the fortress was covered with forests, mainly of sequoias. Ross was mainly built from sequoia wood. She, for example, was used to produce barrels for salting meat. Later, the production of "chain" tiles, which were in great demand in Novo-Arkhangelsk, spread. From Ross, oak planks and beams, firewood and hay for livestock were loaded onto ships leaving for Alaska. Of particular interest in Novo-Arkhangelsk was the fragrant wood of the local laurel. The subject of export later became liquid resin, which was driven from the local pine.
The settlement of the inhabitants of the colony was relatively concentrated: most of them lived in Ross. However, in addition to the actual "settlement and fortress Ross", there were two more small settlements in Russian California. These were the Port of Rumyantsev in Malaya Bodega, where Russian ships were moored. It consisted of 1-2 buildings (warehouse, then also a bathhouse), which were guarded by several Russians or Kodiakians. And the hunting artel on the Farallon Islands, which usually consisted of a Russian and a group of Alaskan hunters. The artel hunted seals and sea lions, caught there for food and seabirds. Meat and birds were dried and transported to the mainland. In the 1830s, the Russians moved south of Ross by setting up three ranch farms (the village of Kostromitinovskoye, the Chernykh ranches, the Khlebnikovskiye Plains ranches) to increase agricultural production.
By 1836 the population of the fort had grown to 260 people, most of them lived on the banks of the Slavyanka River (now called the Russian River). In addition to the Russians, representatives of several local Indian tribes lived on the territory of the settlement. The Russian population was represented mainly by men who signed a seven-year contract with the Russian-American company. There were practically no Russian women in the colony, so mixed marriages were especially common.
The colony was headed by a ruler (from the 1820s - the ruler of the office), who was assisted by clerks. Throughout the history of Ross, five chiefs have changed - the first from the moment of foundation until 1821 was Ivan Kuskov, then - Karl Johan (Karl Ivanovich) Schmidt (1821 - 1824), Pavel Shelikhov (1824 - 1830), the future consul of Russia in San Francisco Peter Kostromitinov (1830 - 1838) and Alexander Rotchev (1838 - 1841).
The next level of the hierarchy was made up of Russian workers, the so-called "industrial". They were joined by the natives of Finland (Swedes and Finns), Creoles and natives of Alaska who were in the service of the RAC for a salary. The bulk of the male population of the colony was made up of the so-called "Aleuts" - mainly the Kodiak Eskimos (konyag), as well as the Chugachi and some representatives of other peoples of Alaska. They went to California to hunt, but in fact they were mostly engaged in either hunting or in various types of unskilled labor, including logging. Californian Indians in the early 1820s accounted for more than one fifth of Ross' adults. The overwhelming majority of them are natives, wives or cohabitants of the settlers.
The development of social infrastructure institutions in Russia, generally characteristic of the Russian colonies in Alaska (hospital, school, church), was restrained by the company's administration for fear of arousing the suspicions of the Spaniards, including missionaries, that the Russians had far-reaching plans to colonize California. However, almost the first Russian Orthodox church in America was built in Ross. In the 1820s, the Trinity Church was opened, which operated throughout the entire existence of the fortress.
Chapel in Ross
Dmitry Zavalishin's project
One of the most interesting pages in the history of Russian California is associated with the name of the Decembrist Dmitry Irinarkhovich Zavalishin. Zavalishin (1804-1892) was an extraordinary person. A descendant of an old noble family, who received an excellent education in the Marine Corps, from childhood he was distinguished by great abilities and great ambition, faith in his own uniqueness and high destiny. This brought him closer to the Decembrist movement, in which he acted relatively independently, trying to create his own organization (Order of the Restoration). By the time of the Decembrist uprising, Zavalishin advocated the destruction of the monarchy and the extermination of the imperial family; in the case of December 14, he was sentenced to eternal hard labor, replaced by 20 years.
Even before the uprising, Warrant Officer Zavalishin took part in a round-the-world voyage on the cruiser frigate under the command of MP Lazarev (1822-1825). The ship was in San Francisco from November 1823 to February 1824. According to Zavalishin's recollections, California was going through a crisis at that time - it was in a state of anarchy, did not obey Mexico and at the same time was not considered independent. The political situation in it was determined by the struggle between two elite groups: "Mexican" (senior officers, officials) and "Royal Spanish" (clergy). The clergy were weaker due to the inability of the missionaries to ensure their safety from the Indians without the help of the military.
Zavalishin proposed a project for the voluntary annexation of California to the Russian Empire. Zavalishin was able to interest Emperor Alexander I. To consider his proposals, an unofficial committee was created under the chairmanship of A. A. Arakcheev and composed of the Minister of Education, Admiral A. S. cases of K. V. Nesselrode. Alexander I found the idea of the Order "fascinating, but unfeasible," and Zavalishin's proposals on California and administrative reforms instructed NS Mordvinov to consider and extract "every possible benefit" from them.
Zavalishin proposed annexing California and Nikolai's government. In a letter to Nicholas I of January 24, 1826, he writes: “California, succumbed to Russia and populated by Russians, would have remained forever in its power. The acquisition of its harbors and the low cost of maintenance made it possible to maintain an observation fleet there, which would give Russia dominion over the Pacific Ocean and Chinese trade, would strengthen the possession of other colonies, and limit the influence of the United States and England. "The purpose of his plans, he outlined, with the help of the Order of the Restoration, "establishing himself in America, acquiring the richest province and beautiful harbors to influence its fate and limit the power of England and the United States," which Zavalishin constantly emphasized his dislike.
Zavalishin noted a number of priority cases that were supposed to strengthen Russia's position in the region. For the development of agriculture in Ross, Zavalishin believed, it was enough for the first time to bring there three or four families of “people who know arable farming” (peasants), and then allow RAC employees to stay in Ross instead of returning to Russia. Zavalishin proposed, in order to accelerate the growth of the population of Ross, to accustom the Indians to a sedentary lifestyle and agriculture, to begin their Christianization. He noted that "the very difference in the treatment" of the Spaniards and the Russians in relation to the Indians could have favored the Russians. Zavalishin took an offensive position: "These places must be taken immediately, because the founding of the colonies is already the last time, and if it is not founded as soon as possible, the hope disappears that this could ever be done."
Zavalishin proposed expanding the colony, which was necessary for the development of agriculture (the coastal strip was infertile). Such an expansion, according to Zavalishin, should have led to the annexation of the entire western part of Northern California to Russia. The border of the territory assigned to Russia, Zavalishin in later publications calls the US border in the north, recognized by Spain along the 42nd parallel, in the south - the Gulf of San Francisco, in the east - r. Sacramento. In these territories it was necessary to establish new agricultural settlements, for which to organize the resettlement of peasants from Russia.
Thus, Zavalishin was the successor of the ideas of Rezanov and Baranov, he strove to make California a part of both Russia and his own destiny, and like Rezanov, he sharply felt the time factor - the “window of opportunity” for Russia in this region was quickly closing (the Americans were already on their way). Zavalishin not only appreciated the potential of the region and drew attention to the weakness of the Ross colony. He also realized that in order to achieve the goal originally set by the Russians in California, he had to hurry and act energetically, otherwise it would be too late.
However, Nesselrode hacked to death this project, as well as a number of others aimed at expanding the territory and sphere of influence of the Russian Empire. Nesselrode told Mordvinov that the government could not allow itself to be drawn into enterprises with unknown consequences, at the initiative and imagination of private individuals, especially since Russia's relations with Britain and the United States were already strained. Thus, the national interests of Russia were again placed below the interests of Western "partners" - the United States and Britain. Like, you can't spoil your relationship with them by supporting the various "fantasies" of the Russian people. Although from such “fantasies” the Russian Empire was actually born.
In addition, the Foreign Ministry reacted negatively to the idea of Zavalishin and the RAC to populate the new colony with grain-growers freed from serfdom. Zavalishin, seeing the main problem of the Russian colony in California, proposed "to develop agriculture in California through the free colonization of Russian indigenous farmers …". The RAC, as conceived by NS Mordvinov, "thought … to redeem from serfdom, mainly in land-poor areas and from poor landowners, peasants for resettlement in California." The settlers were supposed to be given complete freedom from duties and compulsory occupations, so that they could fully devote themselves to arable farming. Zavalishin somewhat clarifies these plans: with the redeemed serfs, the RAC entered into an agreement for seven years, with the expectation of five years in place. The company supplied them with everything, and the peasants had the right to choose - to return or stay in California: then everything they received became their property and they received a plot of land as their property. That is, it was a project to create a layer of a kind of free farming (a revolutionary idea for that period).
For the fate of Russian California and wider Russian America, the transition to peasant colonization would be salvation. This would be a fundamental change in the colonization strategy of the RAC, including its demographic and ethnic aspects. Russian America could get a significant mass of the Russian population, hardworking and relatively free, which solved the problem of military security and economic development of the territory.
Selling Ross
Despite all the strategic prospects, the entire time of its existence, the colony was unprofitable for the Russian-American company. By the mid-1830s, the local population of fur animals had declined dramatically, so that the fur trade fell to a minimum. After an agreement between the administration of the RAC in Novo-Arkhangelsk and the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver, the need for food supplies from California disappeared. In addition, Ross's international status was never determined. Another factor that hindered the development of the settlement was its isolation from the rest of the Russian possessions. Petersburg, however, did not express a desire to expand the Russian lands in America, although given the weakness of Spain (then Mexico) and the United States at that time, Russia had a "window of opportunity" for the annexation of California to the empire.
By the end of the 1830s, the question of liquidating the Russian colony in California arose before the board of the Russian-American Company. The Hudson's Bay Company was not interested in the proposed deal. The Mexican government, which continued to regard the land under Ross as its own, was unwilling to pay for it, expecting the Russians to simply leave. In 1841, Fort Ross was sold to a large Swiss-born Mexican landowner, John Sutter, for almost 43 thousand rubles in silver, of which he underpaid about 37 thousand. Sutter had to supply wheat to Alaska as payment, which he did not.
Subsequently, the Sutter deal was not recognized by the Mexican authorities, who transferred the territory of the fort to a new owner, Manuel Torres. This was soon followed by the separation of California from Mexico and its capture by the United States of America. After changing several owners in 1873, Fort Ross was acquired by the American George Call, who set up a ranch on its territory, in which he was successfully engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. In 1906, the fortress was bequeathed to the state of California by George Call. Nowadays, Fort Ross exists as one of the national parks of the state of California.
