The Alaska Purchase was a treaty by which Russia sold territory to the
United States in 1867. The area comprised present-day Alaska and contained abundant natural resources. Russia was motivated to sell the area
because of financial concerns and its lagging interest in the region.
The region of Alaska, which had been part of Russian territory for
years, had proved to be a drain on the Russian treasury. Years of neglect
hampered the region’s profitability, so Russia was interested in surrendering responsibility for it. With the American population increasing in
California to the south, the Russians decided to open conversations to
sell the area to the United States.
In March 1867, the U.S. secretary of state, William Seward
(1801–1872), and Russian minister Eduard de Stoeckl (1804–1892) negotiated a treaty under which the United States would purchase Alaska for
$7.2 million. As Alaska had nearly 586,400 square miles, the cost was only
about two cents per acre. Alaska ultimately proved to be rich in natural resources of timber, coal, copper, gold, and oil as well as salmon and furs.
Americans mock purchase
While both governments thought they had negotiated the better deal,
news of the treaty was not well received by Americans. Critics mocked
the treaty with names like Seward’s Folly or Seward’s Icebox. They said
the price was too high for a territory that would prove to be worthless.
Supporters argued that the region’s natural resources would help commerce in the region and assist in opening trade with Asia.
The treaty was presented to the Senate on March 30, but public outcry prevented its quick approval. The necessary two-thirds vote came
only after an impassioned three-hour speech by Charles Sumner
(1811–1874), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The treaty passed that day, April 9, and the two countries exchanged ratifications on June 20.
The formal transfer of Alaska occurred on October 18, 1867, before
the United States had paid Russia the agreed price. Political squabbling
delayed approval for funding by the House of Representatives. The appropriations bill was finally approved a year after ratification, and payment was made on August 1, 1868.
Gold was discovered in Alaska in 1881, and prospectors, merchants,
miners, and explorers streamed into Alaska to seek a fortune. In 1884,
Congress organized the territory by passing the Organic Act, which
placed Alaska under a collection of federal laws and Oregon state laws.
A second Organic Act in 1912 provided for land ownership, mail service, and a civil government under the Territory of Alaska. Alaska became
the forty-ninth, and largest, state in the union in 1959.