Alaska Territory Dispute

In the mid to late 1800’s brought about the “Treaty of Cession referred to indigenous people of Alaska as "uncivilized tribes." Such designation in legislation and other agreements caused Alaska Natives to be subject to the same regulations and policies as American Indians in the United States” (Benson, 2015). This was also followed up the 1884 First Organic Act, disputing Alaskan Natives any claims for the land they occupied, and the Major Crimes Act of 1885 that would not allow natives to process any criminal acts. This prompted the start of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB), this organization united all the different tribes/clans of Southeast Alaska to bond together to press the US government for equality for all Native Alaskans (Benson, 2015). For several years, the Tlingit people fought politically against the US government for control and rights to the land they inhabited for centuries. Though the Tlingits won small advantages in the battle for ownership, such as the 1935 congressional ruling that allowed both the Tlingits and the Hiada Indians the right to sue the Federal Government for a land dispute. It wasn’t until 1971, when President Nixon signed in action the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, becoming the largest land claims settlement in United States History. According to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act,

Alaska was officially made a state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959. Many people had forgotten the nickname Alaska once had as “Seward's Folly”; Finally, realizing the importance Alaska had on the United States. The Alaska purchase was proved to be the most important purchase ever transacted by the United States

claimed Florida. All this was called the Adams Onis Treaty of 1819.This had a great a

The proposed border between Canada and the US was deleted, yet the Oregon Territory border wasn’t settled. The US claimed up to the fifty-four degrees forty minutes north as the border for the Oregon Territory because of the posts left by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The border between the areas claimed by the United States and Canada of the Oregon Territory was resolved to the forty-nine degrees north line and the Oregon Treaty was settled in 1846 (“The”). After the Oregon Territory and the land gained by the US through the Mexican-American War was controlled by the US, there was still a small portion of land on the edge of the US-Mexico border that makes up the rest of the contiguous United States and Washington,

Similarly, another territory that was in heavy dispute was Oregon. Both Britain and the United States claimed that the territory belonged to them. There were not able to come to an agreement about who had complete

The United States had acquired most of what would be Colorado in 1803 through the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was a land purchase made the U.S. to purchase French territory. Through the purchase, the U.S. had acquired approximately 828, 000, 000 square miles of land from France. The Louisiana Purchase, which costed the United States 15 million dollars, doubled the size of the country’s size back then. The eastern part of what would be Colorado was controlled by the U.S.

This idea was initially mocked for its absurdity, despite Alaska's abundance of natural resources. Seward was successful in his endeavor to convince Congress to purchase the Alaska Territory stating that if the U.S. didn't purchase it then the Canadians would. There was also talk of bribery by the Russian government to push the vote through in favor of Seward. This decision was important because it gave the U.S. its 49th State as well as vast swaths of resource-rich land.

The U.S. needed to solidify a strong position in the Pacific so they secured the territory of Alaska previously owned by Russia. A better military, economic, and strategic position in the Pacific was exactly what the U.S. government needed to further the interests of the country. The first purpose of buying the empty land was to gain a stable oil supply. In addition to the oil, precious minerals were found in Alaska which added to the value of the purchase, and

Though Congress had yet to approve a single cent for the deal. Few Americans, viewed Alaska as a bargain. The press mocked the purchase as “Seward’s Folly,” and “Seward’s Icebox.” But nearly one year later, and after much political wrangling, the U.S. Treasury finally wrote the check. And Alaska became a U.S. territory.

On the day of October 18th, 1867, The United States takes formal possession of Alaska. The territory was purchased from Russia for 7.2 million dollars, which is less than two cents per acre. The purchased was championed by William Henry Seward, who served as President Andrew Johnson’s secretary at the time. Seward had negotiated the deal with the Russian Prime minister at the time, Eduard de Stoeckl. Russia had interests in selling the Alaskan territory, and decided that it was better to sell it, rather than lose it in a war. After the purchase had been final, it was named “Seward’s Folly.” Americans, at the time, believed that Alaska was a barren icy wasteland, so it was not the most popular of deals. It wasn’t until a year later, that Alaska Territory would be ratified. In 1896, Alaska had become more favorable, when the discovery of gold in its Klondike River had taken place. Alaska

William H. Seward is the person responsible for obtaining Alaska from Russia. This happen in 1867 when America purchased Alaska from Russia for seven million dollars. Some Americans where happy to expand territory well others thought it was useless investment. Minds where changed about this purchase in a couple decades when people realized that Alaska was rich in natural resources, and a gold rush was sparked for a short period of time. Once the gold rush died down mining for other natural resources became popular and harvesting fishing. Finally in 1912 Alaska would be recognized as a U.S territory and would become known officially as a state forty seven years later in 1959.

In the 1800s, there were many disputes over land borders involving Canada, Britain, and Mexico. The Aroostook War was a border dispute between Canada and Maine that was settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842; both sides gained some concessions. There was a border dispute with Britain in the Oregon Territory. In 1846, America and Britain agreed on the 49 parallel as the boundary. Furthermore, the Guadalupe Hidalgo, a treaty as a result of the Mexican-American War, gave America Texas and parts of Mexico.

Alaska is a huge land mass that is surrounded by water on three sides, Russia realized the territory would be too difficult to defend if another attack were to happen. Russia offered the territory to both Britain and the United States of America, hoping to see who would offer more money. However, Britain did not show an interest in buying the land. That left the United States with the option to buy Alaska; and while they were interested, they were not that interested. With the Civil War on the rise, buying a new territory was not high on George Washington's priority list.

“Losing Alaska” narrator in the podcast stated that “The debate about climate change is not about science but about human behavior”. I consider “sacrifice and relationship” the intersection between climate change and human behavior. It was also mentioned in the podcast interview that “Divide’s on climate change is not scientific facts but social interaction”. When people notice that they are personally being affected by climate change in such a negative way whether it be financially or physically I am sure that the effect will cause them to observe their personal relationship and actions with the environment around them.

Summary: Looking for Alaska is the story of a young boy named Miles Halter who leaves his hometown in Florida in order to attend Culver Creek Preparatory High School in Alabama for his junior year. This boy loves reading biographies and especially memorizing last words of famous people. At Culver Creek, he meets new friends such as Chip his roommate also called Colonel, Takumi and Alaska a beautiful young girl with whom he will fall in love but cannot have since she already has a boyfriend named Jake. Unfortunately, under their influence, Miles starts smoking and drinking alcohol. One night after having drank a lot of alcohol, Alaska and Miles start to kiss but do not go further because Alaska