The Alaska Purchase\Seward's Folly

Transfer Ceremony

The Purchase

• The transfer of Alaska from Russia to The U.S. took place at the town of Sitka, Alaska on October 18th 1867, 6 months after the treaty was signed.

• The ceremony was at the Governor of Alaska's house, this is where 250 american soldiers led by 2 generals marched to.

• The ceremony included the lowering of the Russian flag, and then a Russian captain - Pestchouroff - a small line. And then the raising of the American flag.

• "By the authority of his majesty the emperor of Russia, I transfer to the United States the Territory of Alaska."

• 100 Russian soldiers were present at the ceremony, too.

• The purchase was ratified on April 9th of 1867 by the senate by one vote.

• After an all-night negotiation, Seward signed the treaty to buy Alaska for $7,200,000 on March 30th of 1867 at 4 in the morning.

• Alaska was 586,412 square miles, mostly unexplored. The purchase was commonly referred to as Seward’s folly because people thought it was a waste of $7.2 million. Unless if precious minerals were discovered, the land would be an empty ripoff.

The 37 starred flag of America

The Later Years/

After The Purchase

• The addition of Alaska to the United States increased the total amount of land owned by the US by almost %20, or 1/5. This elevated the English's colonial progress.

• The discovery of “Gold in dem Hills!” (better known as the Alaska Gold rush) in 1896 proved Alaska much more valuable than what was paid. The gold made Alaska a more desirable settlement.

• In 1946, the Alaskans adopted statehood and less than a decade after that, they had a constitution. 4 years later - 92 years after the purchase - was ratified as the 49th state of the US.

• The state of Alaska celebrates “Seward’s Day” on March 30th (the day of the purchase). After more exploration, more towns were Founded, one of them named after the man devoted towards the purchase of the land.

The good ole Treaty

The Offer And

The Proposal

• Russia was worried a war with Britain would break out, allowing the British to seize the Alaska territory. so they offered to sell Alaska to the U.S. in 1859.

• Britain was also approached about the Alaska territory, Russia hoped to start a bidding war. But the British didn't show any interest.

• Russia first offered the Territory to Britain, but they showed no interest. So Russia focused on America.

• The proposed price for the Alaska territory was $7.2 million; which is only about 2 cents per acre. William Henry Seward was secretary of state at the time. He had wanted to buy Alaska for a while.

• $7.2 million is about $118 million in today’s system.

Image of

Henry Seward

The Alaska Purchase

The Purchase Of Alaska

By Dylan Chandler

Thank you

The American Dream includes the promise to "limited freedom" but freedom none the less.

The freedom to make their own living. Hunting and selling furs and meats, lumber jacking and carpentry, digging up copper, oil, and gold, the promise for new opportunities.

Will Seward is a good example of self determination. The new land and available properties fulfilled a new dream for many Americans.

On the other side of the purpose, the Russians felt much safer know that a war with Britain wasn't a possibility. Although the bidding for the territory didn't work out, $7.2 million made them pretty happy.

Consider these:

• William Seward chased his desire for the Alaska territory for quite a while.

• People doubted this purchase for logical reasons before precious minerals were found. Seward ignored them because he was hopeful and determined.

• Russia feared a war with Britain, which would have ended in defeat without a miracle. So Russia sold their weakest point of land to remain safe.

• And most important; If you decide to buy a chunk of unexplored land, you might just find gold and oil and all sorts of goodies.

The American Dream

Can't see any Take Aways?