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The
Alaska Purchase Map
The Alaska Purchase
Map shows the position of Alaska in relation to Russia
and the New United States. Alaska is the largest U.S.
State and about 1/5 of the total land area of the 48
contiguous states (adjoining states). The map shows the
proportion of the land that covers 586,412 square miles
and has nearly 34,000 miles of tidal shoreline.
Alaska Purchase: Seward's Folly
Why was the Alaska Purchase known as
Seward's Folly? The
purchase of Alaska was derisively known as Seward's
Folly as most of America thought the price of the land was
too high. Seward's Folly is named for William H. Seward
who was the Secretary of State under both President
Lincoln and President Johnson and was an ardent
expansionist and believed in the
Manifest Destiny of
America. The word folly, rarely used today, means
the result of a foolish action, senseless behavior or
enterprise.
Alaska Purchase History for kids
Franklin
Pierce, the 14th president of the United States is credited with
initiating the first discussions on acquiring Alaska from Russia. In
the
Monroe Doctrine of 1823
the Czar
of Russia had agreed not to establish colonies in the recognized southern boundary of Russian America. The
Alaska Purchase took place on October 18, 1867. This famous
transaction was initiated by William Seward and President Andrew Johnson who
approved a
treaty with Russia for the purchase of Russia's American territories
to the Senate, for ratification, . The territories were called
Alaska, and included a massive tract of land in the extreme
Northwest of the North American continent. The price to be paid was
7.2 million dollars. The Senate was taken by surprise, but it
ratified the Treaty of Russia. Full details of important dates and
the people involved in the Alaskan acquisition are detailed on the
fact sheet.
Facts about the
Alaska Purchase for kids
Interesting facts about the Alaska Purchase are
detailed below. The history of the Alaska Purchase is told in a
factual timeline sequence consisting of a series of interesting, short facts
providing a simple method of relating the
history of the Alaska Purchase for kids, schools and homework projects.
The Alaska
Purchase Fact Sheet for kids
Alaska Purchase
Fact 1: What was the Alaska
Purchase? It was the acquisition of Russian America by
the United States from the Russian Empire.
Alaska Purchase
Fact 2: When was the Alaska
Purchase?
● March 30,
1867: America signed a treaty with Russia,
purchasing the Russian
American territories
● October 18,
1867: The land was formally transferred from Russian
to American control
at Sitka
● July 14,
1868: The House of Representatives approved funding
for the purchase of
Russia by a vote of 11 3-48
Alaska Purchase
Fact 3: Who negotiated the
Alaska Purchase? It was negotiated and signed at a
convention in Washington on March 30, 1867 by Secretary
of State William Seward and Russian Minister and Envoy
to the United States who was Edouard de Stoeckl
Alaska Purchase
Fact 4: The Treaty of Russia
was signed and negotiated on behalf of His Majesty the
Emperor of Russia and the United States of America. The
Russian Emperor was Tsar Alexander II
Alaska Purchase
Fact 5: Why did Russia sell
Alaska? Russia lacked the money required to support
military presence and establish new settlements along
the Pacific coast of North America. Russia believed that
Great Britain would take the land from Russia by force.
It was politically and strategically preferable for the
United States to buy the land than have it taken by the
British. Defeat in the Crimean War further reduced
Russian interest in this region.
Alaska Purchase
Fact 6: How many acres were
purchased? 586,412 square miles (1,518,800 km2) which is
double the size of Texas
Alaska Purchase
Fact 7: The Treaty of Russia,
detailed the amount for purchasing the Russian American
territories for the amount of $7.2 million.
Alaska Purchase
Fact 8: The Treaty with
Russia important Dates: Treaty of Russia signed March
30, 1867. Ratification Advised by Senate on April 9,
1867. President Johnson signed the treaty on May 28,
1867. Ratification Exchanged at Washington on June 20,
1867. Proclaimed, June 20, 1867.
Alaska Purchase
Fact 9: The territory was
formally transferred from Russian to American control at
Sitka, on the Alaskan panhandle, on October 18, 1867
Alaska Purchase
Fact 10: The House of
Representatives approved funding for the purchase of the
Russian territory by a vote of 113-48 on July 14, 1868
Continued...
The Alaska
Purchase Fact Sheet for kids
Facts about the
Alaska Purchase for kids
Interesting facts about the Alaska Purchase continue below, with
fast, fun facts providing an educational resource providing a simple
explanation of the
history of the Alaska Purchase for kids, schools and homework projects.
The Alaska
Purchase Fact Sheet for kids
Alaska Purchase
Fact 11: Russia offered to
sell the Alaskan lands to the United States in 1859 but
negotiations were brought to a halt by the political
internal strife in the US which led to the outbreak of
the Civil War
Alaska Purchase
Fact 12: The Russians were
initially interested in the lands because of the
possible raw materials and were especially interested in
furs. Peter the Great sent Vitus Bering to explore the
North Pacific in 1725 and the Russians claimed the
lands. They found the land inhospitable, difficult to
settle and were attacked by hostile the native Aleut
people.
Alaska Purchase
Fact 13: The transfer ceremony
took place in Sitka on October 18, 1867 when the Russian
flag was lowered and the American flag raised. Russian
and American soldiers paraded in front of the governor’s
house accompanied by bands and the sound of firing
canon.
Alaska Purchase
Fact 14: The newspaper press
heavily criticized the acquisition which was given
several nicknames including "Seward's Folly", "Seward's
icebox" and "Andrew Johnson’s Polar Bear Garden"
Alaska Purchase
Fact 15: William Seward was
finally vindicated 60 years later when a Important gold
deposit was discovered in the Yukon in 1896 which led to
the Klondike gold rush
Alaska Purchase Fact 16:
The
strategic and tactical importance of the
territory was finally appreciated and
recognized during WW2
Alaska Purchase Fact 17:
Alaska
became a state on January 3, 1959
Alaska Purchase Fact 18:
Significance of the Treaty of Russia: It was
extremely significant as it
● Ended
Russia’s presence in North America
● Prevented the British taking the lands
from Russia
● Ensured U.S. access to the Pacific
northern rim
● The
Klondike Gold Rush began in 1896
● Alaska provided
rich resources such as gold to the United
States of America
The Alaska
Purchase Fact Sheet for kids
Alaska Purchase - President Andrew Johnson
Video
The article on the Alaska Purchase provides
an overview of one of the Important events
during his presidential term in office. The
following Andrew Johnson video will give you
additional important facts and dates about
the political events experienced by the 17th
American President whose presidency spanned
from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869.
Alaska Purchase
● Interesting Facts about the Alaska
Purchase for kids and schools
● Key events and history of the Alaska
Purchase for kids
● The Alaska Purchase, a Important event
in US history
● Andrew Johnson Presidency from April 15,
1865 to March 4, 1869
● Fast, fun facts about the Alaska
Purchase
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President
Andrew Johnson
● Andrew Johnson Presidency and the Alaska
Purchase for schools, homework, kids and
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