Alaska Purchase facts for kids
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The check for $7.2 million used to buy Alaska. This was a lot of money back then!
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| Signed | March 30, 1867 |
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| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Effective | October 18, 1867 |
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The Alaska Purchase was a huge deal when the United States bought Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867. The price was $7.2 million, which was a lot of money back then! On March 30, 1867, a special agreement was signed. Then, on May 15, the United States Senate officially approved it. This meant that Alaska legally became part of the United States on October 18, 1867.
During the early 1800s, Russia had some settlements in North America, mostly in Alaska. However, not many Russians actually lived there.
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Why Russia Decided to Sell Alaska
Russia had explored and settled parts of Alaska starting in 1732. Fur traders, called promyshlenniki, were the first to arrive. They hunted animals like sea otters for their valuable fur. The Russian Orthodox Church also sent missionaries to work with the native people and built churches.
However, by the 1850s, the number of sea otters had dropped a lot. Russia also faced financial challenges after losing a major war called the Crimean War. They realized it would be very hard to protect Alaska if another war broke out, especially against their rival, the United Kingdom.
Emperor Alexander II of Russia thought it would be better to sell Alaska. He believed that if gold was found there, Americans and Canadians would quickly move in. He also didn't want the United Kingdom to take over Alaska, as that would put a strong rival right next to Russia across the Bering Sea.
How the Deal Was Made
Russia first thought about selling Alaska in the late 1850s. They even offered it to the United States, hoping it would help balance British power in the region. However, the American Civil War was about to begin, so the U.S. government was too busy to make a deal.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, Russia tried again. Emperor Alexander II told his diplomat, Eduard de Stoeckl, to talk with William H. Seward, who was the U.S. Secretary of State. Both President Andrew Johnson and Seward believed that buying Alaska could help the country focus on something positive after the war.
The negotiations happened quickly, even lasting through an entire night! On March 30, 1867, they signed the agreement. The United States agreed to pay $7.2 million for Alaska. This worked out to about 2 cents per acre, which was an incredible bargain for such a huge amount of land!
What People Thought About the Purchase
The purchase added about 586,412 square miles (1,518,800 square kilometers) to the United States. Many Americans were happy about it. They thought Alaska could be a great base for American trade with Asia.
However, some people didn't like the idea. They called the purchase "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox." They believed the U.S. had bought a useless, frozen wasteland.
Despite these doubts, the United States Senate approved the treaty with a vote of 37 to 2. Senator Charles Sumner, a key supporter, believed Alaska would be valuable for its animals, forests, and trade opportunities.
Life in Alaska After the Purchase
When the United States bought Alaska, most Russian settlers decided to leave and return to Russia. Alaska remained a very sparsely populated area for many years.
The U.S. government initially called the area the Department of Alaska. Later, it became the District of Alaska in 1884, and then the Territory of Alaska in 1912. Finally, in 1959, Alaska officially became the 49th state of Alaska.
For a long time, many Americans didn't see the true value of Alaska. That changed dramatically with the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896. When gold was discovered, thousands of people rushed to Alaska, hoping to strike it rich!
The Official Handover Ceremony
The official ceremony to transfer Alaska from Russia to the United States happened in Sitka on October 18, 1867. Russian and American soldiers marched together in front of the governor's house.
During the ceremony, the Russian flag was slowly lowered, and the American flag was raised. Cannons fired to mark this important moment.
A blacksmith named Thomas Ahllund, who was in Sitka at the time, wrote about the event. He described how the Russian flag, with its double-headed eagle, got tangled on the flagpole and was hard to bring down! It took three soldiers to finally get it. This made the moment even more memorable for those watching.
After the flags were exchanged, Captain Aleksei Peshchurov officially handed over Alaska to General Lovell Rousseau of the United States. Many forts, buildings, and barracks were given to the Americans. Most Russian citizens soon left Alaska, though a few traders and priests chose to stay.
Alaska's Growing Importance
One of the main reasons the U.S. wanted Alaska was for its valuable seal fisheries. From 1870 to 1890, these fisheries produced 100,000 seal skins each year! The money earned from leasing the right to hunt seals eventually paid back more than the original purchase price of Alaska.
However, there were disagreements about who controlled the waters where the seals lived. This led to the Bering Sea Controversy. In 1893, an international court decided that the Bering Sea was international water, not just American. This meant both the U.S. and Britain had to follow rules to protect the seals.
Over time, Alaska proved to be incredibly rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals, far beyond what people first imagined.
Celebrating Alaska Day
Every year, on October 18, people in Alaska celebrate Alaska Day. This holiday remembers the day Alaska was officially transferred from Russia to the United States in 1867. It's a special day for all state workers in Alaska.
See Also
In Spanish: Compra de Alaska para niños
