Minhee





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 Russia has been wanting to sell Alaska for a long time; it was simply too far away and hard to defend from it's enemies. Russia feared that it might lose the land to their enemy Great Britain, so they sold the land to America. Great Britain was also an enemy of U.S so by selling the land, Russia was able to keep the U.S as an ally and kept Britain from getting Alaska.

Secretary State William H. Seward negotiated with Russia to reach a price of 7.2 million dollars for Alaska. Alaska was so large that it added an additional 20% to the U.S. The purchase wasn't that popular but it was approved by a vote of 27 to 12 only one vote more necessary to sign the treaty. The United States Senate won easy approval but the United States of Representatives was in no hurry to pay the 7.2 million dollars. Congress was not very happy with approving this treaty but the wish to alienate the Czar who had supported the Union during the war, resulted in their approval. Nevertheless it seemed to be an unexplored wasteland, so critics called it "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox".



Since Alaska was not a pressing issue for the U.S, America did not make create a civilian government for it. In the interior of Alaska many of the inhabitants did not know about the purchase for a long time since America did not decide to do anything with Alaska at that time. The Natives wished to keep their tradition of life and the U.S granted them the benefits of being a citizen of the United States though they did not give those rights to the "uncivilized" tribes.

Most of the oppos ition towards the Alaska Purchase was subsided when gold was discovered. After gold was found Alaska interested many people immigrate; this brought a need for a government. Many changes came in the years to come: the U.S set up new laws such as judicial districts. Soon after Alaska received its first representative. Drastic changes like woman being able to vote happened when Alaska's population started to increase. The Klondike Gold Strike had a huge impact on Alaska's meager population. The first official census done in 1880 reported 33,426 Alaskans, 430 being the original settlers. The sudden increase in population forced the U.S government to The Gold Rush drew more than 30,000 people to Alaska by 1900 there were over 63,000 people; since then, it has given the U.S many economic benefits since its purchase.Today Petroleum is also transported in long pipelines making Alaska the richest mineral resource to the U.S. Alaska was especially important for its resources during the World War. Other important industries include fishing, wood products, furs and tourism. The U.S has also effected Alaska's calendar; they changed it in accordance to their own timeline.

Today Alaska produces 20% of the U.S's oil, has many operating gold mines, produce's the nations seafood and will soon to have the longest gas line pipe in the world. Some might argue that the snow, rain, and the vast land makes it expensive to maintain, but simply because it is expensive does not mean that it is negative. Having children is expensive too, but it is certainly not negative. Alaska also started relying on the federal government. The Alaska Purchase prevented Great Britain from taking the land and kept the alliance between Russia at that time. Overall, Alaska seems to have a positive addition to the U.S.

Alaska finally became a state on January 3, 1959.



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