Advanced American History
Alaska Imperialism
March 27, 2014
Alaska was originally a Russian territory, it provided the Russian empire with an easy access to the large land mass of Canada and the U.S. Inhabitants of Alaska consisted of some Russian, but mostly consisted of the native Inuit tribes that had lived in the Alaska area for many hundreds of years. On March 30, 1867 the U.S purchased Alaska from Russia for seven million dollars or roughly two cents per acre. Alaska would remain a territory for over eighty years before becoming a state on the third of January in 1959.
When Alaska was originally purchased, it was meant to be a vital refueling station for American ships that were going to fuel with Asia. On a side note, Alaska was purchased to fill the “Manifest Dynasty” that the U.S was trying to obtain. Alaska was just a small piece of the puzzle in putting American roots in the Asian countries. As for the native people of Alaska, American’s brought a very big change to their world. Many Inuit tribes were converted to the Christian way of life. When gold was found in Alaska in the early 1890’s this sent many American’s to the gold fields of the Alaska tundra. Many American men would take Inuit brides and would continue to live in Alaska which over time would result in different cultural changes.
When Alaska became a state in the late fifties, the territory had not been thoroughly looked at. Many scientists and explores had talked of Alaska’s harsh environment, and the thousands of miles of unsettled territory. In the early sixties, the U.S military set up a training facility in the southern part of the state, this allowed soldiers to train in some of the roughest terrain known to man. When the military began training operations in Alaska, the native people again went through a very large cultural change. For example, most tribes had been converted to Christianity and towns had been established during the early 1900’s. Fairbanks, Alaska was the predominant mail office of the state. The military would introduce many airports and more oil refineries to the state. Planes would become a primary source of travel throughout the state. When Vietnam broke out in the early part of the sixties, soldiers were often flown from the lower forty- eight states to Alaska and the flown over to Vietnam because the plane ride was less far.
In 1968, oil was found on the northern most slope of the Alaska mountain range. With the outbreak of oil being found the U.S was quick to establish more military forces in the country. Even today, Alaska is one of the most profound oil centers in the U.S. Oil refineries brought a huge job calling for many of the natives and brought many citizens of the lower forty-eight states “North to Alaska.
Today Alaska is known as the final frontier of the U.S. Only the most brave and toughest of souls can bear the harsh climate of the Alaskan tundra. However, much of the population there is a white mix, meaning that many citizens are white, yet carry an Inuit heritage with them.
theimperialismofalaska.weebly.com
history.state.gov › Milestones › 1866–1898
www.theindianleader.com/..
Alaska Imperialism
March 27, 2014
Alaska was originally a Russian territory, it provided the Russian empire with an easy access to the large land mass of Canada and the U.S. Inhabitants of Alaska consisted of some Russian, but mostly consisted of the native Inuit tribes that had lived in the Alaska area for many hundreds of years. On March 30, 1867 the U.S purchased Alaska from Russia for seven million dollars or roughly two cents per acre. Alaska would remain a territory for over eighty years before becoming a state on the third of January in 1959.
When Alaska was originally purchased, it was meant to be a vital refueling station for American ships that were going to fuel with Asia. On a side note, Alaska was purchased to fill the “Manifest Dynasty” that the U.S was trying to obtain. Alaska was just a small piece of the puzzle in putting American roots in the Asian countries. As for the native people of Alaska, American’s brought a very big change to their world. Many Inuit tribes were converted to the Christian way of life. When gold was found in Alaska in the early 1890’s this sent many American’s to the gold fields of the Alaska tundra. Many American men would take Inuit brides and would continue to live in Alaska which over time would result in different cultural changes.
When Alaska became a state in the late fifties, the territory had not been thoroughly looked at. Many scientists and explores had talked of Alaska’s harsh environment, and the thousands of miles of unsettled territory. In the early sixties, the U.S military set up a training facility in the southern part of the state, this allowed soldiers to train in some of the roughest terrain known to man. When the military began training operations in Alaska, the native people again went through a very large cultural change. For example, most tribes had been converted to Christianity and towns had been established during the early 1900’s. Fairbanks, Alaska was the predominant mail office of the state. The military would introduce many airports and more oil refineries to the state. Planes would become a primary source of travel throughout the state. When Vietnam broke out in the early part of the sixties, soldiers were often flown from the lower forty- eight states to Alaska and the flown over to Vietnam because the plane ride was less far.
In 1968, oil was found on the northern most slope of the Alaska mountain range. With the outbreak of oil being found the U.S was quick to establish more military forces in the country. Even today, Alaska is one of the most profound oil centers in the U.S. Oil refineries brought a huge job calling for many of the natives and brought many citizens of the lower forty-eight states “North to Alaska.
Today Alaska is known as the final frontier of the U.S. Only the most brave and toughest of souls can bear the harsh climate of the Alaskan tundra. However, much of the population there is a white mix, meaning that many citizens are white, yet carry an Inuit heritage with them.
theimperialismofalaska.weebly.com
history.state.gov › Milestones › 1866–1898
www.theindianleader.com/..
alaska_word_search.doc | |
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