October 18:
1867: U.S. takes possession of Alaska
On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. The Alaska purchase comprised 586,412 square miles, about twice the size of Texas, and was championed by William Henry Seward, the enthusiasticly expansionist secretary of state under President Andrew Johnson.
Russia wanted to sell its Alaska territory, which was remote, sparsely populated and difficult to defend, to the U.S. rather than risk losing it in battle with a rival such as Great Britain. Negotiations between Seward (1801-1872) and the Russian minister to the U.S., Eduard de Stoeckl, began in March 1867. However, the American public believed the land to be barren and worthless and dubbed the purchase "Seward's Folly" and "Andrew Johnson's Polar Bear Garden," among other derogatory names. Some animosity toward the project may have been a byproduct of President Johnson's own unpopularity. As the 17th U.S. president, Johnson battled with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. He was impeached in 1868 and later acquitted by a single vote. Nevertheless, Congress eventually ratified the Alaska deal.
Public opinion of the purchase turned more favorable when gold was discovered in a tributary of Alaska's Klondike River in 1896, sparking a gold rush. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959, and is now recognized for its vast natural resources. Today, 25 percent of America's oil and over 50 percent of its seafood come from Alaska. It is also the largest state in area, about one-fifth the size of the lower 48 states combined, though it remains sparsely populated.
The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word alyeska, which means "great land." Alaska has two official state holidays to commemorate its origins: Seward's Day, observed the last Monday in March, celebrates the March 30, 1867, signing of the land treaty between the U.S. and Russia, and Alaska Day, observed every October 18, marks the anniversary of the formal land transfer.
American Revolution
1767 : Mason and Dixon draw a line
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mason-and-dixon-draw-a-line
Automotive
1933 : R. Buckminster Fuller tries to patent his Dymaxion Car
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/r-buckminster-fuller-tries-to-patent-his-dymaxion-car
Civil War
1863 : Controversial Union General Sickles visits his troops
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-sickles-visits-his-troops
Cold War
1989 : East Germany and Hungary move toward democracy
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-and-hungary-move-toward-democracy
Crime
1968 : John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrested for drug possession
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-arrested-for-drug-possession
Disaster
1998 : Pipeline explosions kills 700 in Nigeria
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pipeline-explosions-kills-700-in-nigeria
General Interest
1469 : Ferdinand and Isabella marry
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ferdinand-and-isabella-marry
1860 : Peking's Summer Palace destroyed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pekings-summer-palace-destroyed
1898 : U.S. takes control of Puerto Rico
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-takes-control-of-puerto-rico
1931 : Edison dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/edison-dies
Hollywood
1988 : Roseanne debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roseanne-debuts
Literary
1951 : Terry McMillan is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/terry-mcmillan-is-born
Music
1974 : Soul singer Al Green is attacked in his own bathtub
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soul-singer-al-green-is-attacked-in-his-own-bathtub
Old West
1867 : The United States formally takes possession of Alaska from Russia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-formally-takes-possession-of-alaska-from-russia
Presidential
1962 : JFK records his impressions of secret meetings
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-records-his-impressions-of-secret-meetings
Sports
1977 : Mr. October hits three homers in three swings
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mr-october-hits-three-homers-in-three-swings
Vietnam War
1955 : Emperor Bao Dai attempts to dismiss Diem
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/emperor-bao-dai-attempts-to-dismiss-diem
1968 : Stock market soars with rumors of bombing halt in Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stock-market-soars-with-rumors-of-bombing-halt-in-vietnam
World War I
1915 : Third Battle of the Isonzo
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/third-battle-of-the-isonzo
World War II
1942 : Vice Admiral Halsey named new commander of the South Pacific
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vice-admiral-halsey-named-new-commander-of-the-south-pacific
1867: U.S. takes possession of Alaska
On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. The Alaska purchase comprised 586,412 square miles, about twice the size of Texas, and was championed by William Henry Seward, the enthusiasticly expansionist secretary of state under President Andrew Johnson.
Russia wanted to sell its Alaska territory, which was remote, sparsely populated and difficult to defend, to the U.S. rather than risk losing it in battle with a rival such as Great Britain. Negotiations between Seward (1801-1872) and the Russian minister to the U.S., Eduard de Stoeckl, began in March 1867. However, the American public believed the land to be barren and worthless and dubbed the purchase "Seward's Folly" and "Andrew Johnson's Polar Bear Garden," among other derogatory names. Some animosity toward the project may have been a byproduct of President Johnson's own unpopularity. As the 17th U.S. president, Johnson battled with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. He was impeached in 1868 and later acquitted by a single vote. Nevertheless, Congress eventually ratified the Alaska deal.
Public opinion of the purchase turned more favorable when gold was discovered in a tributary of Alaska's Klondike River in 1896, sparking a gold rush. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959, and is now recognized for its vast natural resources. Today, 25 percent of America's oil and over 50 percent of its seafood come from Alaska. It is also the largest state in area, about one-fifth the size of the lower 48 states combined, though it remains sparsely populated.
The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word alyeska, which means "great land." Alaska has two official state holidays to commemorate its origins: Seward's Day, observed the last Monday in March, celebrates the March 30, 1867, signing of the land treaty between the U.S. and Russia, and Alaska Day, observed every October 18, marks the anniversary of the formal land transfer.
American Revolution
1767 : Mason and Dixon draw a line
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mason-and-dixon-draw-a-line
Automotive
1933 : R. Buckminster Fuller tries to patent his Dymaxion Car
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/r-buckminster-fuller-tries-to-patent-his-dymaxion-car
Civil War
1863 : Controversial Union General Sickles visits his troops
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-sickles-visits-his-troops
Cold War
1989 : East Germany and Hungary move toward democracy
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-and-hungary-move-toward-democracy
Crime
1968 : John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrested for drug possession
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-arrested-for-drug-possession
Disaster
1998 : Pipeline explosions kills 700 in Nigeria
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pipeline-explosions-kills-700-in-nigeria
General Interest
1469 : Ferdinand and Isabella marry
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ferdinand-and-isabella-marry
1860 : Peking's Summer Palace destroyed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pekings-summer-palace-destroyed
1898 : U.S. takes control of Puerto Rico
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-takes-control-of-puerto-rico
1931 : Edison dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/edison-dies
Hollywood
1988 : Roseanne debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roseanne-debuts
Literary
1951 : Terry McMillan is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/terry-mcmillan-is-born
Music
1974 : Soul singer Al Green is attacked in his own bathtub
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soul-singer-al-green-is-attacked-in-his-own-bathtub
Old West
1867 : The United States formally takes possession of Alaska from Russia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-formally-takes-possession-of-alaska-from-russia
Presidential
1962 : JFK records his impressions of secret meetings
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-records-his-impressions-of-secret-meetings
Sports
1977 : Mr. October hits three homers in three swings
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mr-october-hits-three-homers-in-three-swings
Vietnam War
1955 : Emperor Bao Dai attempts to dismiss Diem
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/emperor-bao-dai-attempts-to-dismiss-diem
1968 : Stock market soars with rumors of bombing halt in Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stock-market-soars-with-rumors-of-bombing-halt-in-vietnam
World War I
1915 : Third Battle of the Isonzo
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/third-battle-of-the-isonzo
World War II
1942 : Vice Admiral Halsey named new commander of the South Pacific
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vice-admiral-halsey-named-new-commander-of-the-south-pacific
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