de Stoeckl, Edouard, and William H. Seward. "United States Purchase of Russian Territory Treasury Warrant." 30 March 1867. Treasury warrant. Description: The check marked the completion of the purchase of nearly 600,000 square miles of land from the Russian Government for $7.2 million, issued on August 1, 1868, at the Sub-Treasury Building in New York, New York. The purchase price amounted to less than two cents an acre for the 49th state. Original located in the National Archives, Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of Treasury. Source: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=41.
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Alaska Purchase
The Alaska Purchase, also known as Seward's Folly, refers to the acquisition of Alaska by the United States from the Russian Empire in 1867. This event holds great historical significance and is often studied to understand the expansionist policies of the United States during the 19th century.
In the mid-1800s, Alaska was a remote and sparsely populated region known for its vast wilderness, harsh climate, and abundant natural resources. The Russian Empire, facing financial difficulties and concerned about potential British encroachment, decided to sell Alaska. U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward saw this as an opportunity to expand American territory and secure valuable resources.
The negotiations for the Alaska Purchase were led by Secretary Seward, who faced criticism and ridicule for the perceived extravagance of acquiring such a distant and seemingly barren land. Critics dubbed the purchase "Seward's Folly" and questioned its economic viability. However, Seward believed in the untapped potential of Alaska and its strategic importance.
On March 30, 1867, the United States and Russia signed the Treaty of Cession, officially transferring Alaska to the United States for the sum of $7.2 million, equivalent to approximately two cents per acre. The purchase added a vast landmass of 586,412 square miles to the United States, more than doubling its territory.
Following the Alaska Purchase, the U.S. government faced numerous challenges in governing the newly acquired territory. The indigenous peoples of Alaska, including the Inuit, Aleut, and Tlingit, had resided in the region for thousands of years and maintained their own unique cultures and ways of life. The United States gradually established governance structures and worked to assimilate Alaska into the American economic and political system.
The significance of the Alaska Purchase became evident in the late 19th century when gold was discovered in the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada, just across the border from Alaska. This sparked a gold rush, with prospectors flocking to Alaska in search of fortune. The discovery of other valuable resources, including oil, timber, and fish, further solidified the importance of Alaska to the United States.
Today, Alaska is recognized as a vital part of the United States, known for its stunning natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural heritage. The Alaska Purchase, once ridiculed as Seward's Folly, has proven to be a strategic decision that has greatly contributed to the growth and development of the United States.
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