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Britain fought 2 large scale wars against America, on U.S. soil, quarreled multiple times on the brink of hostilities, and almost started a 3rd military invasion. The Russian Empire not only never attacked the United States, but in all of these calamities emanating from London, arose to help America, providing diplomatic, economic and even direct military assistance. In turn, the U.S.A. were Russia’s only supporter when Britain unleashed the Crimean War. Surprised?
Did you know that the United States looked upon Russia as her only European ally for more than 50 years, and that, overall, these nations enjoyed more than 140 years of uninterrupted friendship, which included political coalitions, trade agreements (Russia was the 1st country that was granted “most favored nation” status by the U.S.A.), and territorial concessions? Founding Father Thomas Jefferson even penned: “I am confident that Russia … is the most cordially friendly to us of any power on earth, will go furthest to serve us, & is most worthy of conciliation.”
This book is intended to popularize history – to spark curiosity and give the reader enough thought-provoking incentive, along with more than 1,700 references to historical documents and research, to help you continue to explore, and uncover what has always been there: facts of American and Russian cooperation & friendship, obscured by time - and, sometimes, by intentional effort. President Lincoln’s ambassador to St. Petersburg, Cassius M. Clay, remarked in the 1860s: “I had read in English journals of the Russian people being but little better than beasts in the field”. It is quite sad to see that in 2025 Cambridge University Press chose to call the British-published history of American-Russian relations “Distant Friends and Intimate Enemies”. Yet, the facts are that from the time that Czar Peter the Great met with William Penn (who had already established Pennsylvania in America) - to the final days before Russia was conquered by Communists, the relations can objectively be characterized as intimately friendly.
As Alexis de Tocqueville put it back in 1835, in what historian David McCullough regards as one of wisest books ever written: “There are now two great nations in the world which, starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. … Each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.” From the time of the Founding Fathers and President Washington, to the early days of President Wilson’s administration, Americans were arch allies with their Russian counterparts, together positively affecting the course of human history.
My work started as talks that I had the pleasure of giving at the Seattle Olympic Club, which since 1942 brings together those who had distinguished themselves in serving America in government (foreign service, military, security) and private enterprise (business developers, leaders of international trade, distinguished engineers). Between them, the “Olympians” had traveled to practically every corner of the world and their collective knowledge of American and global history is truly astounding.
Yet, when I first presented the actualities of how, during the American Revolution, the Russian Empire had refused Britain’s requests for military assistance, continued trade with the former colonies, and insisted on peace talks – in essence, how Russia helped America gain freedom – the listeners were astonished. When I returned to tell the tale of how Russia was the only country in the world that extended direct military backing to the Lincoln government and provided key support to help save the Union during the U.S. Civil War – it was clear that these are stories, which needed to be told to a wide audience.
How Russia helped America during its War of Independence - Alexey Palladin explains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGEP9EeMxyI
After Russia helped America not lose to Britain during their War of 1812, Czar Alexander II provided help to President Lincoln at a critical time during the US Civil War - Alexey Palladin presents key facts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1xNEAUKAOk
