Open AccessGEORGE KENNAN AND THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN TELEGRAPH EXPEDITION
Author(s) -
A. Zahorodnia
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
vìsnik - kiïvsʹkij nacìonalʹnij unìversitet ìmenì tarasa ševčenka. ìstorìâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1728-2640
DOI - 10.17721/1728-2640.2020.147.3
Subject(s) - george (robot) , empire , soviet union , feeling , political science , history , law , economic history , art history , psychology , politics , social psychology
The article aims to analyze the participation of George Kennan, a prominent U.S. expert on Russian affairs, in the Western Union telegraph expedition and explain in what way it shaped his outlook on the Russian Empire. The research pays special attention to the factors that led to the development of Kennan’s affectionate feelings towards Russia and the impact they made on his views. The explorer’s travelogue “Tent Life in Siberia”, which serves as the main primary source for this research, shows that after the first journey Kennan showed very little awareness of the tsarist’s repressive policy and therefore created a positive public image of Russia in the U.S.