1. Early U.S. Ownership of Alaska 1876-1900

2. Seward’s Icebox Alaska purchased from Russia for $7.2 USD. Not a “folly” Under federal control – U.S. Army (1876-77) – U.S. Department of Treasury (1877-79) – U.S. Navy (1879-84)

3. Economic Forces 1878 Salmon Canning Industry begins 1880 Gold discovered near Juneau 1884 Organized as a U.S. Territory

4. Sheldon Jackson 1885; Appointed to Alaska “Americanization” of indigenous peoples as a means to save them Richard Danhauer characterizes this as “disastrous to native self-image and language survival.”

5. Sheldon Jackson Characterized by religious values prevalent from 1880-1900; Protestant Christianity Characterized by American Indian policy of the time – Avoidance – Removal – Acculturation – Survival and Perseverance Not responsible for creating these values

6. Sheldon Jackson Dedicated to saving native culture Recognizes need for natives to be educated in their own villages Siberian and Norwegian Reindeer import to Aleut, Yupik, and Inupiaq

7. Gold in Alaska 1848 Russians report gold on Kenai Peninsula 1861 Gold discovered at Telegraph Creek 1872 Gold discovered at Stikine River 1880 Gold discovered near Juneau – Chief Kowee, Joe Juneau, Richard Harris 1887 Treadwell Mine @ Douglas Island – 1917 extracted $67 Million Gold fields in Seward Peninsula, Fairbanks, Juneau

8. Tredwell Mine

9. Klondike Gold Rush 8/16/1896 – George Washington Carmack, Tagish (Dawson) Charlie Mason, & Skookum Jim discover gold on the Klondike – A year late word reaches U.S. – 80,000 hopefull…YOU TOO!