The U.S. and Russia: Closer Than We Think Separated by only 55 miles over the Bering Strait, the United States and Russia have been engaged almost from the beginning of the fledgling American democracy. Like the strait itself, however, proximity has offered both great opportunity and, at times, rough waters.
This exhibition celebrates more than 200 years of diplomatic history between these two great nations - from the settlement of Alaska by Russian explorers through expanding frontiers, beyond the suspicions kindled by the Russian Revolution to the alliance of World War II, from the tension and rivalry of the subsequent Cold War era, through detente, on to a rekindling of cooperative relations in the present day.
Closer Than We Think: 200 Years of Russia-U.S.
Diplomacy will travel across Russia in 2007 for stops at American
Consulate Generals (in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok) and some
30 American Corners.
For more information, please contact 200Anniversary@state.gov
Russian America:
Shared Roots
In 1725, Peter the Great commissioned a Danish explorer, Vitus Bering, to discover where Asia ended and North America began. Three years later, Bering sailed through the narrow continent-separating channel that now bears his name. More
Seeds of Diplomacy:
"Great & Good Friend …"
The 18th century Age of Enlightenment, with its emphasis on applying reason to all areas of human experience and replacing tyranny and tradition with liberty and ethics, had an impact on both countries. More
Advancing Diplomacy:
Manifest Destinies
The panorama of Alaska was breathtaking but, having depleted the region of fur- producing animals, the Russians were ready to move on to other needs, such as securing a warm-water port. More
Allies:
The World War II Era
The totalitarian nature of Joseph Stalin's Soviet regime, combined with the withdrawal of Russia from the World War I alliance, soured relations between the two nations. However, the 1941 invasion of Russia by Nazi Germany made them almost instant allies. The Eastern Front saw the most ferocious fighting and was the deadliest battleground of the Great Patriotic War (World War II), as Russia repelled Nazi advances. More
Cold War: Living on the Brink
The United States stopped the carnage of World War II by exploding a deadly new weapon – the atomic bomb – on Japan, the remaining Axis command. That demonstration of unparalleled U.S. power, combined with Stalin's aggressive post-war takeover of Eastern Europe, ended cooperation and started the Cold War. More
Forging Ties: Peaceful Co-Existence
Despite the complex political climate the Cold War rivalry engendered, the two superpowers remained connected through a variety of exchanges, both official and those privately initiated by "citizen-diplomats." More
The Space Race:
From Competitors to Partners
The Space Race, initiated by the 1957 USSR satellite Sputnik launch, proved itself more than just another competition – it triggered an explosion of interest in the heavens and those brave enough to go there. People everywhere followed the launching and retrieval of space capsules sent on increasingly complex missions. Whether cosmonaut or astronaut, the accomplishments of Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn, and others were celebrated. More
Changes: Start of a New Era
Relations took another turn when Mikhail Gorbachev gained power in 1985, incorporating reforms to improve the living standards of the Soviet people. His pragmatism brought about the first nuclear reduction treaty and won him the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for easing Cold War tensions. More
Parallels: Common Culture and History
The uniqueness of America and Russia as vast, diverse, western nations with close ties to Europe – but not directly of it – is, perhaps, an explanation of how closely and unexpectedly they connect. More
Cultures Combined:
Unexpected Results
With common historical roots, though divergent paths, the two peoples share many traits. When famine devastated 1920's Soviet Russia, the American Relief Administration delivered food and medicine over treacherous terrain to 10 million Russians daily; during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina crisis, Russia sent tons of aid to the U.S. disaster area. More
Partners in Peace:
Diplomacy in the 21st Century
Entering the 21st century, these nations can justly celebrate their relationship, with the president of each, George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin, declaring the other "a strong ally." Both nations, victim of heart-breaking terrorist attacks, have become close collaborators in the battle against extremist violence. More
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