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Advantages of Aquiring Alaska

Resources

Better trade in the pacific

Largest U.S. state

Has many square miles and a large tidal shoreline

(“Alaska Purchase”)

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Video
(“Alaska: “Sewards” 0:01:41)

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Alaska: "Seward's Folly" - Decades TV Network

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Resources Alaska Brought

Gold

Oil

Fish

Timber

(“Sewards Folly”)

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Why Russia Sold Alaska

Lacked Money

Needed to support Military

Great Britain would’ve taken Alaska by force

Russia had no use of the land

Native people attacked Russians

The land was hard to settle on

(“Alaska Purchase”)

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Sewards Folly

Also known as Sewards “icebox”

Folly means foolish action

Named after William H. Seward

Seward was the Secretary Of State

Many Americans thought the price of Alaska was too high

Americans also believed that Alaska had no benefits

(“Sewards Folly”)

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The Purchse of Alaska

14th President (Franklin Pierce) was first to want to acquire Alaska

Purchase took place on October 18, 1867

Treaty was held with Russia between William H. Seward and President Johnson

Cost of Alaska was $7.2 million

March 30, 1867 the treaty was signed by America

October 18, 1867 America controlled the land

America acquired 586,412 square miles by buying Alaska

Americans gained resources from Alaska

Russia was cut off from North America

Alaska became a U.S. state on January 3, 1959

(“Alaska Purchase”)

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Works Cited

“Alaska Purchase.” American Historama, Siteseen Limited, www.american-historama.org/1866-1881-reconstruction-era/alaska-purchase.htm. Accessed 14 Mar. 2018.

“Alaska: “Sewards Folly”.” YouTube, uploaded by Decades TV Network, 30 Mar. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO728KJWsxM.

“Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Henry Seward (1801–1872).” Office of the Historian, history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/seward-william-henry.

In 1866 the Russian government offered to sell the territory of Alaska to the United States. Secretary of State William H. Seward, enthusiastic about the prospect of American expansion, negotiated the deal for the Americans. Eduard de Stoekl, Russian Minister to the United States, negotiated for the Russians. On March 30, 1867, the two parties agree that the United States would pay Russia $7.2 million for the territory of Alaska. For less than 2 cents an acre, the United States acquired nearly 600,000 square miles. Opponents of the Alaska Purchase persisted in calling it “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” until 1896, when the great Klondike Gold Rush convinced even the harshest critics that Alaska was a valuable addition to the United States. 1 Aug. 1868. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives/5286025584.

Kenneth. Persons of Interest: William H. Seward. 16 Sept. 2016. Livejournal, potus-geeks.livejournal.com/760383.html.

Nast, Thomas. Nast on Alaska. 20 Apr. 1867. Commons, commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nast_on_Alaska.jpg.

“Sewards Folly.” American Historama, Siteseen Limited, www.american-historama.org/1866-1881-reconstruction-era/sewards-folly.htm. Accessed 14 Mar. 2018.

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(Kenneth)

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(In 1866)

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(Nast)

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William Henry Seward

Born in New York on May 16, 1801

The leading Republican for the presidential nomination in 1860 but did not become president due to his strong speeches about anti slavery

Was appointed as the 24th Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln in 1861

In charge of the international affairs of the U.S.

Died in 1872

Paid $7.2 million to buy Alaska from Russia

Buying Alaska led to the profit of gold and trade in the Asia-Pacific area

(Biographies of the Secretaries)