Many people don't know the history of Alaska. It is in fact the biggest surface on the North-American Continent, and the 49th state to become part of the confederacy. It is located to the North-West of the continent. Upon acquisition by the American Government from Russia in 1867, it was named "Seward's Folly", after the US secretary William Seward, who had in fact arranged the entire transaction. Many feared that the territory had little to no importance and was just a waste, but with the discovery of gold around the 1890's, new prospects and settlers came.
The state borders the vast Arctic and the Beaufort Sea. To the South you will find the Alaskan Gulf, the Pacific, as well as the Bering Sea. East boasts the province called British Columbia but also the Canadian Yukon Territory, while the West offers the Bering Sea, Arctic, Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea.
The state borders the vast Arctic and the Beaufort Sea. To the South you will find the Alaskan Gulf, the Pacific, as well as the Bering Sea. East boasts the province called British Columbia but also the Canadian Yukon Territory, while the West offers the Bering Sea, Arctic, Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea.
History begins in 10 000 BCE, when ancient migratory groups had to pass a natural bridge consisting of ice that connected the area to Siberia. These nomads then settled, and several of these clans are found even today. Some well known tribes include the Aleuts, Athabaskans, Haida and the Yupik, the Tlingit as well as the Inuits.
Modern history starts with expeditions led by the Russians. The initial party was led by Aleksei Chirikov and Vitas Bering took place in 1741. It was in the year 1784 that the first settlement on Kodiak Island was established. 15 years later, a Russian-American Enterprise took over the area. A Mr. Aleksandr Baranov, the firm's director, made the area the company's headquarters. In 1802, a group of Tlingit Indians overtook Sitka, but two years later they lost it, as well as the war with Russian colonizers.
The complete inability of the Russians to ensure self-sustainment for the establishments had restricted their capacity to control and develop the area. In addition, the czarist government saw the colonies as utterly useless and money-consuming. In the year 1867, as a result of negotiations carried by American Secretary of State, William Seward, Russia finally agreed to sell their territories to the United States for the price of just over $7000000. From 1867 until the first Organic Act was issued in 1884, the region was administered by a federal governor.
The discovery of gold reserves in 1880 at Juneau, the capital city, triggered and ensured economic prosperity. Prospectors came, and the result was several gold strikes on Forty Mile River and Circle. The most important strike however was in Klondike, which gave way for the gold to spread to the Yukon Region and many others around Alaska. This way, it was possible to establish the first permanent towns.
Prosperity was also increased by the fishing and timber industrie
Modern history starts with expeditions led by the Russians. The initial party was led by Aleksei Chirikov and Vitas Bering took place in 1741. It was in the year 1784 that the first settlement on Kodiak Island was established. 15 years later, a Russian-American Enterprise took over the area. A Mr. Aleksandr Baranov, the firm's director, made the area the company's headquarters. In 1802, a group of Tlingit Indians overtook Sitka, but two years later they lost it, as well as the war with Russian colonizers.
The complete inability of the Russians to ensure self-sustainment for the establishments had restricted their capacity to control and develop the area. In addition, the czarist government saw the colonies as utterly useless and money-consuming. In the year 1867, as a result of negotiations carried by American Secretary of State, William Seward, Russia finally agreed to sell their territories to the United States for the price of just over $7000000. From 1867 until the first Organic Act was issued in 1884, the region was administered by a federal governor.
The discovery of gold reserves in 1880 at Juneau, the capital city, triggered and ensured economic prosperity. Prospectors came, and the result was several gold strikes on Forty Mile River and Circle. The most important strike however was in Klondike, which gave way for the gold to spread to the Yukon Region and many others around Alaska. This way, it was possible to establish the first permanent towns.
Prosperity was also increased by the fishing and timber industrie
The complete inability of the Russians to ensure self-sustainment for the establishments had restricted their capacity to control and develop the area. In addition, the czarist government saw the colonies as utterly useless and money-consuming. In the year 1867, as a result of negotiations carried by American Secretary of State, William Seward, Russia finally agreed to sell their territories to the United States for the price of just over $7000000. From 1867 until the first Organic Act was issued in 1884, the region was administered by a federal governor.
The discovery of gold reserves in 1880 at Juneau, the capital city, triggered and ensured economic prosperity. Prospectors came, and the result was several gold strikes on Forty Mile River and Circle. The most important strike however was in Klondike, which gave way for the gold to spread to the Yukon Region and many others around Alaska. This way, it was possible to establish the first permanent towns.
Prosperity was also increased by the fishing and timber industries, although it suffered from the lack of a decent transportation system. It was in 1914, that the construction of the railway finally began. This connected Seward to various fishing ports, Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Although it may be the least populated state in North-America, the history of Alaska shows that it is certainly an important economic player. Due to its vast resources, it provides many jobs and opportunities to a large number of people. There are many more amazing facts that tell a wonderful story about how this area developed into what it is today.
About the Author:
The discovery of gold reserves in 1880 at Juneau, the capital city, triggered and ensured economic prosperity. Prospectors came, and the result was several gold strikes on Forty Mile River and Circle. The most important strike however was in Klondike, which gave way for the gold to spread to the Yukon Region and many others around Alaska. This way, it was possible to establish the first permanent towns.
Prosperity was also increased by the fishing and timber industries, although it suffered from the lack of a decent transportation system. It was in 1914, that the construction of the railway finally began. This connected Seward to various fishing ports, Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Although it may be the least populated state in North-America, the history of Alaska shows that it is certainly an important economic player. Due to its vast resources, it provides many jobs and opportunities to a large number of people. There are many more amazing facts that tell a wonderful story about how this area developed into what it is today.
About the Author:
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