# data[].attributes.body
The first people arrived in Alaska by crossing the Bering Land Bridge from Asia. These brave explorers were the ancestors of today's Alaska Native peoples, including the Tlingit, Inupiaq, Yupik, and Athabascan tribes. They developed rich cultures, traditions, and ways of life perfectly adapted to Alaska's challenging environment.

# data[].attributes.body
Vitus Bering and Aleksei Chirikov led a Russian expedition that became the first European contact with Alaska. This marked the beginning of the Russian period in Alaska's history, leading to the establishment of fur trading posts and Russian settlements.

# data[].attributes.body
The Russians established their first permanent settlement on Kodiak Island. The Russian-American Company would later control Alaska's fur trade, working with (and sometimes against) the Native populations.

# data[].attributes.body
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (about 2 cents per acre). This deal, nicknamed 'Seward's Folly' after Secretary of State William Seward, would later prove to be one of America's greatest land bargains!

# data[].attributes.body
The discovery of gold in the Klondike region sparked a massive gold rush. Thousands of hopeful miners, known as 'stampeders,' rushed to Alaska and the Yukon Territory in search of riches. This event dramatically changed Alaska's population and development.

# data[].attributes.body
The Indian Citizenship Act granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans, including Alaska Natives. However, many Alaska Natives still faced discrimination and weren't allowed to vote until the Alaska Civil Rights Act of 1945.

# data[].attributes.body
After years of campaigning, Alaska was finally admitted as the 49th state of the United States. This historic moment gave Alaskans full rights as U.S. citizens and control over their local government.

# data[].attributes.body
Alaska Natives fought for their civil rights, challenging unfair treatment and segregation. Leaders like Elizabeth Peratrovich helped pass anti-discrimination laws, making Alaska one of the first states to pass such protections.

# data[].attributes.headline
December 18, 1971: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

# data[].attributes.subject
December 18, 1971: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

# data[].attributes.body
This important law (ANCSA) settled Alaska Native land claims. It gave Alaska Natives 44 million acres of land and $963 million in compensation. This led to the creation of Native corporations that continue to benefit Alaska Native communities today.

# data[].attributes.body
The 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline was finished, connecting oil fields in Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. This massive project brought new jobs and economic growth to Alaska, changing the state's economy forever.