William Seward and the Alaska Purchase

Aren't you glad you purchased Alaska? You got a bargain, you know. You purchased it for 2 cents per acre for all 586,000 acres of it.

By "you" I mean you as a tax payer. Back in 1867, under President Andrew Johnson, successor to Abraham Lincoln, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

Purchasing Alaska was not an impulsive decision. The U.S. Congress had been discussing it for several years. Alaska represented a huge parcel of land and nobody really knew what was up there in that part of the world. Russia was motivated to sell. Alaska was too far away for them to be able to do anything worthwhile with all that territory. And, after all, Russia had gotten Alaska for nothing, so they knew that they would realize a nice profit no matter what price they sold it for.

So, finally, on March 30, 1867, the purchase was finalized. The man responsible for negotiating the purchase was William H. Seward, Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. The land deal was immediately named, "Seward's Folly" and "Seward's Ice Box" and "Walrussia" by folks who thought that the United States had purchased a wasteland. It was also referred to as "Johnson's Polar Bear Garden."

In fact, the deal almost did not go through. The Alaska Purchase was ratified by a margin of only one vote.

William Seward, of New York, envisioned the ownership of Alaska as part of a bigger plan. Seward dreamed that the U.S. would someday own all of North America.

Most people do not recall that on the night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated an attempt was made on Seward's life by an associate of John Wilkes Boothe who broke into Seward's bedroom and stabbed him multiple times.

Today, Alaska is recognized as a state rich in resources and not as a frozen wasteland. Alaska produces almost 20 percent of the nation's oil and it is home to several outstanding gold mines. Alaska also leads the nation in seafood production and soon will be home to the largest natural gas pipeline project in North America and the world. Alaska now exports over $3 billion worth of natural resources.

So, it should be no surprise that one of Alaska's most picturesque, thriving cities, Seward, is named after the shrewd negotiator of the Alaska Purchase. And on the last Monday in March, Alaska celebrates a State holiday, Seward's Day.

********************
Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com.

---

The Halakah and Neo Cons

These leaders like the Rothschilds who backed Crowley's Hermetic Order... Read More

Space Colonies a Primary Goal

Many folks who are pro-NASA and Pro-Space Colonies say that... Read More

Discount Cigarettes and Cheap Tobacco from Europe to the UK

It never fails to amaze me. HM Customs and Excise... Read More

History of the Media, Radio, and Television

When were the forms of media created? When did advertising... Read More

Gun Control? How About Crime Control Instead?

The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees every American... Read More

Government Workers and Lawyers Revolving Door Rule Needed

We need more oversight and transparency in government. We need... Read More

Is America Bankrupt?

The US Dollar has been falling continuously in last year.... Read More

The Dawn On The Nile Valley Has Secrets To Tell!

Amnesty International comments on the proposal that has been laid... Read More

Thoughts Born of Tragedy ...

..."history may judge us to be the real bully if,... Read More

The Fed and Other Garbage

"The Jesuit priest John H. Surratt, proven to be the... Read More

Wartime Prisoners and the Will to Fight; War is Hell, Let?s Win Alright?

We learned some lessons in these last few wars. For... Read More

The Second Coming in Albania

Blessed with Chinese GDP growth rates (7-8% annually in each... Read More

The US Government; Under Sarbaines Oxley

Sarbaines Oxley was probably the easiest way to destroy free... Read More

The Truth About Power and Absolute Zero

Societies have always had a problem of what to do... Read More

Monsanto Terminator Seeds

How do you feel about Terminator Seeds from Monsanto? I... Read More

Truckers Take Some Hits and Keep On Trucking

After 9-11 insurance rates on Independent Truck Drivers and smaller... Read More

Seattle Lawyer and Financial Freedom

We are destroying our freedoms and slowing innovation, due to... Read More

How Can You Have True Freedom if They Control Every Aspect of Your Life?

Freedom is in the eyes of the beholder. In Communist... Read More

Fact to Fiction: The Brutal Truth about the Practice of Stoning

"Like humans void of soul or mind, they jeered and... Read More

Snowbirds and American Migration and Mobile Populations

We have seen an increase in Snowbirds from Northern States... Read More

Illegal Immigration - No Sign of Slowing Down

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) estimated that there were... Read More

Intelligent Design - Why are the Intelligent So Afraid of It?

Why are intelligent people so afraid of the idea that... Read More

Freedom on the Internet

Throughout all recorded history on our lovely little planet, Earth's... Read More

Some Farmers and Organic Growers are Upset at Monsanto

The organic farmers are angry that Monsantos terminator GM seeds... Read More

Joseph Campbell - Permanent Human Values

At the start of the US involvement in WWII Joseph... Read More

MAURITANIA: Celebrating Tayas Ouster? Musical Chairs No Longer Fashionable In Africa

A few hours ago, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, the... Read More

Water at the Roots of Twenty First Centurys Conflicts

According to a postulate made by Ignacio Ramonet ecological resources... Read More

Screening Trucks and Containers Coming Into Our Country

We presently have adequate sniffer devices in this country to... Read More

Anti Government, Pro Democracy

Many Americans feel betrayed by their government, our government. I... Read More

Government Regulation Helps People

Well the title is absolute Bull Crap, but this article... Read More

The Wage-Productivity Gap

The most damaging factor to our economy today is the... Read More

National Archives Needs to Embed RFID Tags in Ink

Perhaps we should have printers with ink which has metallic... Read More

Doorstops and Paperweights

Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has... Read More