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Alaska Purchase
Sally Park Sylvia Jung
US-D
Dates Dates
Russia offered to sell Alaska → 1859Senate approval → April 9, 1867President Johnson signed treaty → May
28, 1867Officially became US territory →
October 18, 1867
Russia offered to sell Alaska → 1859Senate approval → April 9, 1867President Johnson signed treaty → May
28, 1867Officially became US territory →
October 18, 1867
Who?Who?
The Russians offered to sell Alaska to the US because it became unprofitable and was impossible to defend
Andrew Johnson purchased Alaska
The Russians offered to sell Alaska to the US because it became unprofitable and was impossible to defend
Andrew Johnson purchased Alaska
Did the government approve the deal?
Did the government approve the deal?
Russia sold Alaska for two cents per acre, therefore since the land was cheap, America thought it was a good deal
Won approval easily in 1867Did not pay $7.2 million until 9 months laterCongress busy paying damage of Civil War &
fighting to impeach President JohnsonRussia also offered previously, but at that time
government too preoccupied with Civil War in US
Russia sold Alaska for two cents per acre, therefore since the land was cheap, America thought it was a good deal
Won approval easily in 1867Did not pay $7.2 million until 9 months laterCongress busy paying damage of Civil War &
fighting to impeach President JohnsonRussia also offered previously, but at that time
government too preoccupied with Civil War in US
Why did Russia sell Alaska?
Why did Russia sell Alaska?
Lack of financial resources to provide military or settlement in Alaska
Crimean War = Russia lost interest in Alaska and money
Wanted to turn towards Asia insteadRussia thought it would reduce rivalry
between British
Lack of financial resources to provide military or settlement in Alaska
Crimean War = Russia lost interest in Alaska and money
Wanted to turn towards Asia insteadRussia thought it would reduce rivalry
between British
Why did America end up buying Alaska?
Why did America end up buying Alaska?
Land was cheap (2cents / ache)Americans thought it was pretty good dealRussia banned direct trade between Alaska
natives and Americanspurchase of Alaska ended Russian
presence in AmericasRich in resources US wanted to expand territory like the
European nations were doingMANIFEST DESTINY!
expand country “from sea to shining sea”
Land was cheap (2cents / ache)Americans thought it was pretty good dealRussia banned direct trade between Alaska
natives and Americanspurchase of Alaska ended Russian
presence in AmericasRich in resources US wanted to expand territory like the
European nations were doingMANIFEST DESTINY!
expand country “from sea to shining sea”
Impact on InhabitantsImpact on Inhabitants
Not much impact on inhabitants due to booming industrialization previously from the Russians
Coast inhabited and densely populated to sell and export fur
No population rush, no economic incentive to move (at first)
Not much impact on inhabitants due to booming industrialization previously from the Russians
Coast inhabited and densely populated to sell and export fur
No population rush, no economic incentive to move (at first)
Population changePopulation change
No immediate changeGold rush and booming resources
brings population boom laterIncrease of women
No immediate changeGold rush and booming resources
brings population boom laterIncrease of women
Natural resourcesNatural resources
Gold, timber coal, copperFish: richest salmon fishing groundOilFur Wild lifeNatural beauty: park, forest,
volcanoes
Gold, timber coal, copperFish: richest salmon fishing groundOilFur Wild lifeNatural beauty: park, forest,
volcanoes
EconomicEconomic
No immediate changeKlondlike gold rush in 1896-1897Gold rush brought people wishing for
instantaneous wealththen brought miners hearing the news
of abundant natural resources to be mined
No immediate changeKlondlike gold rush in 1896-1897Gold rush brought people wishing for
instantaneous wealththen brought miners hearing the news
of abundant natural resources to be mined
Political impactPolitical impact
First people ridiculed Seward for purchasing useless land
Ended up being rich in resources & gold rushFirst Organic Act 1884 - Alaska under federal
and Oregon state lawsSecond Organic Act in 1912 - provide land
ownership, mail service, civil governmentStrategic importance realized in WWII
First people ridiculed Seward for purchasing useless land
Ended up being rich in resources & gold rushFirst Organic Act 1884 - Alaska under federal
and Oregon state lawsSecond Organic Act in 1912 - provide land
ownership, mail service, civil governmentStrategic importance realized in WWII
Impact of Slavery/ other institutions
Impact of Slavery/ other institutions
During Russian occupation, possession of slaves was legal
Mostly women, native tribesTreated worse than animalsOwner's will to injury or kill slaveAs purchase of Alaska, slavery
banned thanks to Seward
During Russian occupation, possession of slaves was legal
Mostly women, native tribesTreated worse than animalsOwner's will to injury or kill slaveAs purchase of Alaska, slavery
banned thanks to Seward
Change in geography/ environmental
Change in geography/ environmental
Large-scale private transfer of public lands and extensive road-building
Increased dispersed settlement in forest Created more than 60 communities with
significant costly infrastructure surrounded by boreal forest
Forest fires burned 37,000 acres of forest and peat
Suburban development continues to expand
Climate increased by 20%Gateway to Klondlike gold mines
Large-scale private transfer of public lands and extensive road-building
Increased dispersed settlement in forest Created more than 60 communities with
significant costly infrastructure surrounded by boreal forest
Forest fires burned 37,000 acres of forest and peat
Suburban development continues to expand
Climate increased by 20%Gateway to Klondlike gold mines
