1. U.S. Imperialism ~ Purchase of Alaska
As the United States expanded westward in the early 1800s, Americans soon found themselves in competition with Russian explorers and traders. The Russian Government, however, lacked the financial resources to support major settlements or a military presence along the Pacific coast of North America. Russian settlers in Alaska never numbered more than four hundred.
In March 1867, Secretary of State William Seward negotiated a deal with Russian Minister to the US Edouard de Stoeckl to purchase "Russian America" for $7.2 million -- or $123 million in today's dollars.
The two diplomats signed the Treaty of Cession on March 30, the Senate barely approved it on April 9, and President Andrew Johnson signed it into law on May 28. We bought the nearly 600,000 square mile Alaskan Territory for approximately $0.02 per sq. mile.
While many Americans opposed the purchase at the time, we later discovered that Alaska was rich in natural resources, including FARMLAND, COPPER, TIMBER, OIL, and GOLD. Additionally, Alaska served as a gateway and fueling stop for trade with Asia.
On October 18, 1867, Russian and American soldiers and dignitaries stood in front of Baranov’s Castle. The Russian Imperial flag was lowered, and the American flag was raised amid the sounds of cannon fire and cheers Alaska officially became a possession of the United States.
The purchase of Alaska in 1867 marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements to the Pacific coast of North America, and became an important step in the United States rise as a great power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Blank Check – Fill in the check below to complete the Alaska deal
9759
August 1, 1868
(Amount paid for Alaska)
(Who we purchased Alaska from)
(Amount paid – written out)
(What we bought and why)

2. What Do You See? Can you identify anyone in the cartoon? Who?
Critics of the deal nicknamed it "Seward's Folly," "Seward's Icebox," and Johnson's "Polar Bear Garden." They criticized the use of government money for land they perceived as worthless. 
"Ninety-nine hundredths of Russian America are absolutely useless," the Holt Country Sentinel newspaper wrote at the time.
"Unfortunately for our treasury and our tax-payers, there is no diplomatic glory to be got out of accepting" Alaska, it was written in the New York Tribune.
Settlement on the land was slow, and a civil government was not established there until 1884. 
It was not until the discovery of gold in the Yukon in the late 1890s and subsequent Gold Rush that the population and value of the area grew. Alaska was granted territorial status in 1912, and officially became a state in 1959.
THE TWO PETER FUNKS
Russian Stranger – “I say, little boy, do you want to trade? I’ve got a fine lot of bears, seals, icebergs, and Esquimaux – They’re no use to me, I’ll swop ‘em all for those boats you’ve got”
[Billy (William Seward), like other foolish boys, jumps at the idea.]
What Do You See? Can you identify anyone in the
cartoon? Who?
Historical Context: What is the event or issue represented by the cartoon? When? Where?
Based on the illustration, what was the artist’s perspective on the topic? Explain.
Movie Clip Questions:
According to Seward, what was Alaska's strategic
value (name both)?
Who did we buy Alaska from?