The First Organic Act

In 1884, Congress finally acted to create a civilian government for Alaska. The law, known as the First Organic Act, provided the bare essentials of government. Though the law did not allow for a legislature or any other elected representation for the people of Alaska, it did call for a "temporary" capital at Sitka, a district court, a governor, a district attorney, a U.S. marshal, and other offices. Alaska historian Robert DeArmond wrote that the most important elements of the act were the creation of the court and the fact that law enforcement responsibility was assigned to the U.S. marshal.

The governor was not elected by Alaska’s residents but rather appointed by the president. With no Alaskan legislature to make laws, the governor was tasked with operating as much as possible under the laws of the State of Oregon as they existed in 1884. The first governor was John H. Kinkead, who served for less than a year before a change in administration in Washington left him out of a job.  S.H. Young, a prominent Presbyterian missionary, wrote of Kinkead, saying that he arrived in the dry territory (where alcohol was illegal) with "an immense supply of cases labeled 'Canned tomatoes.' These 'tomatoes' were proclaimed as tasting exactly like Scotch whiskey and producing the same effect.'" Political scientist Melvin Crain wrote that the first governors "had practically no civil duties to perform except to inspect, report and to enforce a handful of contradictory laws, with no enforcement means provided."

The First Organic Act acknowledged the land rights of Alaska Natives in a provision that was to have long-lasting consequences. It said Natives "shall not be disturbed in the possession of any lands actually in their use or occupation or now claimed by them" and that Congress would decide in the future the terms under which they would get title to their lands.

The law also opened Alaska to mining claims and said that the provisions of an 1872 U.S. mining law were in force. However, it also noted that the land laws of the United States would be withheld, which meant there was no way to get title to private land, a restriction that would cause constant complaints.

Another important feature of the First Organic Act was the establishment of schools. Mission schools were allowed to select 640 acres, and $25,000 (not nearly enough money) was allocated to provide for schools. Dr. Sheldon Jackson was appointed the first General Agent of Education for Alaska, a Washington, D.C. position. He had much influence over Alaskan policies, and he often clashed with the early governors about those policies.

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