Relatively speaking, Alaska has not been part of the United States of America for very long. Before it became a state, it came under the influence of Russia, which might surprise students of history who are more used to reading about the British or the Spanish in North America. The Russian interest in Alaskan history had begin in 1725, which was when explorer Vitus Bering was sent to explore the region by Russian Tsar Peter the Great.
This part of America was blessed with great natural resources and plenty of space of potential settlers, but Russia could never really get to grips with mounting a proper colonization. This was partly due to the distances involved, and there were never more than 400 Russian settlers who managed to get a toehold in the region. Interest from the Russians went into terminal decline after they lost the Crimean War in the 1850s.
This saw the Russians offer the territory for sale to the growing United States, which had begun its huge westward expansion during the 19th century. The Russians had a strategic aim when they offered the property for sale in 1859. They wanted to curb the strategic ambitions of Great Britain, which owned Canada and had just contributed to the defeat of Russia in the Crimean War.
The transaction was delayed though, as America was plunged into a five-year Civil War in 1860. Once hostilities had concluded though, the US Secretary of State William Seward began to move to complete the sale. By March 30, 1867, a deal had been concluded with Edouard de Stoeckl, the Russian Minister resident in Washington, with the Americans paying 7.2 million dollars for the territory.
On October 18 1867 Alaska came formally into the control of the USA in 1867, on October 18. This event marked the end of significant Russian influence in this area of the northern Pacific. It also meant that the Americans now increased their influence over this part of the world, an important strategic development.
Not that this purchase of the territory made very much material difference in the way in which matters were run in Alaska. American rule sometimes seemed non-existent for many years, with the Navy, Army and Treasury all being in control of it for periods. Eventually, in 1884, a civil government was constituted in the territory.
So little happened in the territory at first that many people called the purchase 'Seward's Folly'. There seemed to be no value present in the acquisition of Alaska at all, though this view changed in 1896. This was when gold was found in the Yukon, and Alaska became the gateway to the gold fields of the Klondike.
As a starting point in Alaskan history, the purchase of the territory is as good as any, at least when it comes to the European history of the state. Of course, there were many people living in Alaska before the Americans, or the Russians, turned up. Alaska's real deep history lies in the stories and cultures of the many different Native American peoples who reside in what is, geographically speaking, the largest state of the Union.
This part of America was blessed with great natural resources and plenty of space of potential settlers, but Russia could never really get to grips with mounting a proper colonization. This was partly due to the distances involved, and there were never more than 400 Russian settlers who managed to get a toehold in the region. Interest from the Russians went into terminal decline after they lost the Crimean War in the 1850s.
This saw the Russians offer the territory for sale to the growing United States, which had begun its huge westward expansion during the 19th century. The Russians had a strategic aim when they offered the property for sale in 1859. They wanted to curb the strategic ambitions of Great Britain, which owned Canada and had just contributed to the defeat of Russia in the Crimean War.
The transaction was delayed though, as America was plunged into a five-year Civil War in 1860. Once hostilities had concluded though, the US Secretary of State William Seward began to move to complete the sale. By March 30, 1867, a deal had been concluded with Edouard de Stoeckl, the Russian Minister resident in Washington, with the Americans paying 7.2 million dollars for the territory.
On October 18 1867 Alaska came formally into the control of the USA in 1867, on October 18. This event marked the end of significant Russian influence in this area of the northern Pacific. It also meant that the Americans now increased their influence over this part of the world, an important strategic development.
Not that this purchase of the territory made very much material difference in the way in which matters were run in Alaska. American rule sometimes seemed non-existent for many years, with the Navy, Army and Treasury all being in control of it for periods. Eventually, in 1884, a civil government was constituted in the territory.
So little happened in the territory at first that many people called the purchase 'Seward's Folly'. There seemed to be no value present in the acquisition of Alaska at all, though this view changed in 1896. This was when gold was found in the Yukon, and Alaska became the gateway to the gold fields of the Klondike.
As a starting point in Alaskan history, the purchase of the territory is as good as any, at least when it comes to the European history of the state. Of course, there were many people living in Alaska before the Americans, or the Russians, turned up. Alaska's real deep history lies in the stories and cultures of the many different Native American peoples who reside in what is, geographically speaking, the largest state of the Union.
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