Historical1867
Alaska Transferred to the United States
The United States formally took possession of Alaska from Russia following Secretary of State William Seward's negotiation of the purchase for $7.2 million. Initially mocked as "Seward's Folly," the territory proved rich in natural resources.
Why It Matters
The Alaska Purchase demonstrated how territorial expansion shaped American governance, eventually leading to Alaska's admission as the 49th state in 1959.