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October 18, 1867 - US Takes Possession of Alaska
10/18/2008 1:43:53 PM
| On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. The Alaska purchase comprised 586,412 square miles, about twice the size of Texas, and was championed by William Henry Seward, the enthusiasticly expansionist secretary of state under President Andrew Johnson. Russia wanted to sell its Alaska territory, which was remote, sparsely populated and difficult to defend, to the U.S. rather than risk losing it in battle with a rival such as Great Britain. Negotiations between Seward (1801-1872) and the Russian minister to the U.S., Eduard de Stoeckl, began in March 1867. However, the American public believed the land to be barren and worthless and dubbed the purchase "Seward's Folly" and "Andrew Johnson's Polar Bear Garden," among other derogatory names. Some animosity toward the project may have been a byproduct of President Johnson's own unpopularity. As the 17th U.S. president, Johnson battled with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. He was impeached in 1868 and later acquitted by a single vote. Nevertheless, Congress eventually ratified the Alaska deal. Public opinion of the purchase turned more favorable when gold was discovered in a tributary of Alaska's Klondike River in 1896, sparking a gold rush. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959, and is now recognized for its vast natural resources. Today, 25 percent of America's oil and over 50 percent of its seafood come from Alaska. It is also the largest state in area, about one-fifth the size of the lower 48 states combined, though it remains sparsely populated. The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word alyeska, which means "great land." Alaska has two official state holidays to commemorate its origins: Seward's Day, observed the last Monday in March, celebrates the March 30, 1867, signing of the land treaty between the U.S. and Russia, and Alaska Day, observed every October 18, marks the anniversary of the formal land transfer. |
www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=VideoArticle&id=51785
10/26/2008 8:04:32 PM
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
10/27/2008 5:42:10 AM
Originally Posted By 4v50:
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
Not as bad as the French regret selling us Louisiana (and everything else west of the Mississipi), for 3mil in gold....
11/5/2008 5:37:59 PM
Originally Posted By Dave_A:
Not as bad as the French regret selling us Louisiana (and everything else west of the Mississipi), for 3mil in gold....
Originally Posted By 4v50:
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
Not as bad as the French regret selling us Louisiana (and everything else west of the Mississipi), for 3mil in gold....
Why didn't Canada buy it?
11/9/2008 3:31:20 PM
Originally Posted By ryann:
Why didn't Canada buy it?
Originally Posted By Dave_A:
Not as bad as the French regret selling us Louisiana (and everything else west of the Mississipi), for 3mil in gold....
Originally Posted By 4v50:
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
Not bad for a phuck-up, is it? I'm sure the Russians lament selling it now too.
Not as bad as the French regret selling us Louisiana (and everything else west of the Mississipi), for 3mil in gold....
Why didn't Canada buy it?
Canada didn't exist yet in its modern form––at the time it was still a collection of different territories/colonies. The nation we know today as Canada comes into existence on July 1, 1867, with the ratification of the Constitution Act.
12/3/2008 12:38:01 AM
Canada is a crown colony of Britain, head of state is the Queen of England.
12/5/2008 2:43:06 PM
Canada was part of the British Empire...Napoleon wasn't going to sell anything to the British at the time.
From the U.S., France got the gold and bolstered support with the U.S against Britain...worked really, regarding the War of 1812 thereafter.
From the U.S., France got the gold and bolstered support with the U.S against Britain...worked really, regarding the War of 1812 thereafter.
12/13/2008 4:51:51 PM
Say, isn't it about time for one of those loons over in Russia to start talking about taking Alaska back. Seems to happen every couple of years.
4/2/2009 1:12:12 PM
Although the sell of Alaska to the US was a great deal for the U.S.; this shows what happens when you have absolute monarchs and dictators in power in any nation. This could happen in the U.S. if liberial politicians have their way. They would want to give back the southwestern US because of the Mexican War!
