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'''Alaska''' is a state of the United States in extreme northwest North America including the Aleutian Islands and Alexander Archipelago. It is separated from the other mainland states by British Columbia, Canada. Alaska was admitted as the 49th state in 1959 and is the largest state of the Union. The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000 and was known as Seward's Folly (after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase) until gold was discovered in the late 1800s. Juneau is the capital and Anchorage the largest city. Population: 663,000.
[[Category:Society/Ethnicity/The_Americas]]'''Alaska''' is a state of the [[Nation Located In::Directory:United States of America|United States]] in extreme northwest North America including the Aleutian Islands and Alexander Archipelago. It is separated from the other mainland states by British Columbia, Canada. Alaska was admitted as the 49th state in [[Year Admitted:=1959|1959]] and is the largest state of the Union. The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000 and was known as Seward's Folly (after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase) until gold was discovered in the late 1800s. Juneau is the capital and Anchorage the largest city. Population: [[Population:=663,000|663,000]].
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== History ==
== History ==
[[Image:Alaska.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Alaska]]
Vitus Bering, a Dane working for the Russians, and Alexei Chirikov discovered the Alaskan mainland and the Aleutian Islands in 1741. Bering died from scurvy later that winter on an island named after him, Bering Island.
Vitus Bering, a Dane working for the Russians, and Alexei Chirikov discovered the Alaskan mainland and the Aleutian Islands in 1741. Bering died from scurvy later that winter on an island named after him, Bering Island.
Around this time the British, Spanish, and French were exploring the coast of Alaska. The unregulated exploitation of the fur resources by rival companies led to a depletion of accessible fur areas and the killing and enslavement of the peaceful Aleut natives. Consequently, this led to the chartering of the Russian American Company in 1799. Under its first manager, Alexander Baranov, which was a period of about 20 years, there was an order and systematic exploitation of the fur resources.
Around this time the British, Spanish, and French were exploring the coast of Alaska. The unregulated exploitation of the fur resources by rival companies led to a depletion of accessible fur areas and the killing and enslavement of the peaceful Aleut natives. Consequently, this led to the chartering of the Russian American Company in 1799. Under its first manager, Alexander Baranov, which was a period of about 20 years, there was an order and systematic exploitation of the fur resources.
In 1804, the settlement of Sitka was attacked and held by the Tlingit Indians. The Russians use a combined naval-military operation to force the natives out. Later, in 1805, the Tlingit Indians killed all of the Russian residents that were living at present day Yakutat. The cost of administering the Alaska territory put a significant drain on the Russian homeland. This cost and the disappearance of the sea otter and fur trade brought about the Russians trying to interest the United States in purchasing Alaska in 1859.
In 1804, the settlement of Sitka was attacked and held by the Tlingit Indians. The Russians use a combined naval-military operation to force the natives out. Later, in 1805, the Tlingit Indians killed all of the Russian residents that were living at present day Yakutat. The cost of administering the Alaska territory put a significant drain on the Russian homeland. This cost and the disappearance of the sea otter and fur trade brought about the Russians trying to interest the United States in purchasing Alaska in 1859.
The tremendous land mass of Alaska—equal to one-fifth of the continental U.S. was still unexplored in 1867. And with the Civil War, the purchase was not completed until March 30, 1867 when the Treaty of Purchase was signed in Washington DC , affirmed by the Senate on April 9th, and signed by President Andrew Johnson on May 28th. The formal transfer of the Territory was made at Sitka on October 18, 1867. The purchase price was $7,200,000.00. Shortly afterwards, despite a price of about two cents an acre, the purchase was widely ridiculed as “Seward's Folly.” The first official census (1880) reported a total of 33,426 Alaskans, all but 430 being of aboriginal stock.
The tremendous land mass of Alaska—equal to one-fifth of the continental U.S. was still unexplored in 1867. And with the Civil War, the purchase was not completed until March 30, 1867 when the Treaty of Purchase was signed in Washington DC , affirmed by the Senate on April 9th, and signed by President Andrew Johnson on May 28th. The formal transfer of the Territory was made at Sitka on October 18, 1867. The purchase price was $7,200,000.00. Shortly afterwards, despite a price of about two cents an acre, the purchase was widely ridiculed as “Seward's Folly.” The first official census (1880) reported a total of 33,426 Alaskans, all but 430 being of aboriginal stock.
From 1867 until 1898 the US neglected the administration of the Territory. In 1896 the discovery of gold in the Yukon Territory of Canada fired the imagination of the world. The Gold Rush of 1898 resulted in a mass influx of more than 30,000 people. This brought thousands of gold seekers through Alaska on their way to the gold fields. Another strike was found in Nome, several in the Interior of Alaska along the Yukon River. The last major discovery brought Fairbanks into being in 1902. With the vast influx of people into Alaska, Congress had to apply Civil Codes and establish laws in the Territory. In 1902 the Alexander Archipelago Forest Reserve was created which became the Tongass National Forest in 1907. Since then, Alaska has contributed billions of dollars' worth of products to the US economy.
From 1867 until 1898 the US neglected the administration of the Territory. In 1896 the discovery of gold in the Yukon Territory of Canada fired the imagination of the world. The Gold Rush of 1898 resulted in a mass influx of more than 30,000 people. This brought thousands of gold seekers through Alaska on their way to the gold fields. Another strike was found in Nome, several in the Interior of Alaska along the Yukon River. The last major discovery brought Fairbanks into being in 1902. With the vast influx of people into Alaska, Congress had to apply Civil Codes and establish laws in the Territory. In 1902 the Alexander Archipelago Forest Reserve was created which became the Tongass National Forest in 1907. Since then, Alaska has contributed billions of dollars' worth of products to the US economy.
Alaska gained Territorial status with the United States Congress on August 24, 1912. This gave Alaska a say in the laws that were being passed to administer the Territory. Expectations were not live up to with Territorial status as there was a period of economic and population decline. The Alaska Railroad was build between Seward and Fairbanks between 1914 and 1923. Copper was shipped from the Kennecott Copper Mine to Cordova between 1911 and 1938. In 1935 Federal subsidies were provided to farmers from the Midwest and Dust Bowl to settle the Matanuska Valley Colony.
Alaska gained Territorial status with the United States Congress on August 24, 1912. This gave Alaska a say in the laws that were being passed to administer the Territory. Expectations were not live up to with Territorial status as there was a period of economic and population decline. The Alaska Railroad was build between Seward and Fairbanks between 1914 and 1923. Copper was shipped from the Kennecott Copper Mine to Cordova between 1911 and 1938. In 1935 Federal subsidies were provided to farmers from the Midwest and Dust Bowl to settle the Matanuska Valley Colony.
The most important result of all this activity was the movement for statehood. In 1949 the Alaska Statehood Committee launched a campaign which brought about the Alaska Statehood Act which was signed by President Eisenhower on July 7, 1958. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was officially proclaimed the forty-ninth state of the Union. From 1959 to present, Alaska has had economic booms with timber, oil, sea foods, and the tourism industries.
The most important result of all this activity was the movement for statehood. In 1949 the Alaska Statehood Committee launched a campaign which brought about the Alaska Statehood Act which was signed by President Eisenhower on July 7, 1958. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was officially proclaimed the forty-ninth state of the Union. From 1959 to present, Alaska has had economic booms with timber, oil, sea foods, and the tourism industries.
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== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
* Alaska's name is based on the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula.
* Alaska's name is based on the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula.
== Alaska Map ==
<googlemap lat="61.674238" lon="-158.818359" zoom="7">
61.304725, -158.821461, Alaska, USA
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== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.alaska.gov/ Alaska.gov] - Official website.
*[http://www.alaska.gov/ Alaska.gov] - Official Web site of the state of Alaska offers information about state and local government, education, employment, health care, tourism, and more.
'''Alaska - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder'''
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=04000US01&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US01&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=04000US02
The U.S. Census Bureau provides easy access to statistical tables and thematic maps for the state of Alaska.
'''Alaska Constitution Table of Contents'''
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/akcon/table.html
Complete transcription of the present constitution of the state of Alaska, which became effective on Jan. 3, 1959. Provided by the Alaska lieutenant governor's office.
'''Alaska Department of Education'''
http://www.eed.state.ak.us/
Alaska state education department provides an overview of the agency and information on educational facilities, school districts, programs, and other related resources.
'''Alaska Fact Sheet: AK agriculture income population food education employment farms top commodities exports counties financial indicators poverty organic farming farm income America USDA free spinach'''
http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/AK.HTM
Fact sheet providing latest information on population, employment, income, and top commodities for the state of Alaska. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
'''Alaska State Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation'''
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/index.htm
Web site of the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation lists parks in alphabetical order in eight different regions of the state. Each park site offers information on facilities, fees, and recreation. Includes maps.
'''Alaska State Library'''
http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/pca/pca.html
Web site of the Alaska State Library offers general descriptions of its holdings. Also features online access to a series of outstanding collections of manuscripts, photographs, and maps that highlight Alaska's history.
'''Alaskool.org - Alaska Native history, education, languages, and cultures'''
http://www.alaskool.org/default.htm
Online materials about Alaska native history, education, languages, and culture. Provided by the Alaska Native Curriculum and Teacher Development Project.
'''All US Newspapers / Sort by Title'''
http://www.newspapers.com/usa_news.htm
Newspapers.com (based in Madison, Wis.) provides links to the Web sites of newspapers in the United States, organized by state. Also includes searchable sets of links to college newspapers and TV/radio stations.
'''America's Byways - Alaska'''
http://www.byways.org/explore/states/AK/
Part of Federal Highway Administration's Web site promoting all-American roads and state-designated scenic byways, this section offers road maps, quick facts, and slide shows for the points of interest along the roads and highways of Alaska.
'''American Museum of Natural History'''
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/Jesup/premain.html
Drawing Shadows to Stone commemorates the 1897-1902 Jesup North Pacific Expedition, which documented Native cultures in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Photos, correspondence, and other items reveal the scope of early anthropological fieldwork.
'''Arctic Studies Center - Crossroads of Continents'''
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/croads/
The National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution provides this virtual exhibition devoted to the peoples of northeastern Siberia and Alaska--the "Crossroads of Continents" between Asia and North America.
'''Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (National Park Service)'''
http://www.nps.gov/bela/
Web site of the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska, maintained by the National Park Service, offers visitor information. Click on "inDEPTH" for additional data on location, history, wildlife, climate, and activities.
'''CAMAI - UAA's Campus-Wide Information System'''
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/
Home page of the University of Alaska system offers access to campus information of branches throughout the state. University-related legislation and access to the Statewide Library Electronic Doorway(SLED) are offered as well.
'''Canada's First Nations'''
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firstnations/
This multimedia tutorial focuses on the histories of Canada's First Nations from ancient times to the 19th century. Provided by the Department of History at the University of Calgary.
'''City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska'''
http://www.juneau.org/
Official Web site of Juneau offers information for residents of and visitors to the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, ranging from city services to live Webcam images.
'''DataFinder - Population Reference Bureau'''
http://www.prb.org/datafind/prjprbdata/wcprbdata7.asp?DW=DF&SL=&SA=2
The Population Reference Bureau's "DataFinder" provides information on more than 250 social, economic, and demographic variables (from ethnicity and disability to housing and commuting) for each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Col
'''FindLaw: State Resources'''
http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/
A comprehensive, searchable legal database that provides access to all U.S. state/territory government agencies, statutes, codes, and a host of additional state government resources. From FindLaw, a legal research tool.
'''Historical United States Census Data Browser'''
http://fisher.lib.Virginia.EDU/census/
Rich source of electronically browsable historical U.S. census data from 1790 to 1960. Categorized by state and county. Provided by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research.
'''Home page Sheldon Jackson Museum'''
http://www.museums.state.ak.us/Sheldon%20Jackson/sjhome.html
From the Alaska State Museums Web site, this page on the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka, Alaska, provides information about the museum, its collections, selected artifacts (with color photos), and a schedule of demonstrations by native artists.
'''I Love Alaska - Alaskan Communities'''
http://www.ilovealaska.com/alaska/
From McPhee Publications Inc., fact sheets on all communities of the state of Alaska. Web site also offers a searchable "Alaska Links Encyclopedia."
'''Iditarod'''
http://www.iditarod.com/
Offers a wealth of information on the Iditarod, including specifics on mushers, rules, history, and trail maps. Provides archived reports of past races, as well as links to related Web sites.
'''LII: Statutes'''
http://www.law.cornell.edu/statutes.html#state
Well-organized (by state and by topic) index of links to information on and texts of U.S. state codes, constitutions, statutes, judicial opinions, and other state legal resources. From the Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School.
'''Meeting of Frontiers'''
http://frontiers.loc.gov/intldl/mtfhtml/mfsplash.html
Organized by the Library of Congress, this joint U.S.-Russian Web site presents a comparative history of the American West and Siberia. Includes text, images, and rare documents illustrating various aspects of exploration, migration, and colonization.
'''NACo - About Counties - Find a County'''
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm
The National Association of Counties provides "The History of County Government" and a variety of data on each county in each U.S. state: elected officials, cities and towns, census results, and more. Data are arranged by state via a clickable map.
'''National Park Service - Experience Your America'''
http://www.nps.gov/
U.S. National Park Service Web site provides descriptions of parks, monuments, and preserves, along with other information useful to those preparing to visit. Information on individual parks is accessible by state/territory, activity, or topic.
'''National Register of Historical Places'''
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/
Web site of the National Register of Historic Places provides information on some 80,000 sites and structures, arranged by state and county. Data include area of significance, architect, style, period, function, associated historic person(s), and more.
'''NewsVoyager'''
http://www.newspaperlinks.com/voyager.cfm
Web sites of U.S. daily and weekly newspapers (arranged by state and city within state), media groups, and leading newspapers worldwide (by region). Offered by the Newspaper Association of America.
'''Norwegian-American Historical Association - The Introduction of Domesticated Reindeer into Alaska'''
http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume11/vol11_7.htm
From the Web site of the Norwegian-American Historical Association, article “The Introduction of Domesticated Reindeer into Alaska,” by Arthur S. Peterson, first published in the association's 'Norwegian-American Studies' 11:98-113 (1940).
'''Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: Alaska'''
http://censtats.census.gov/data/AK/04002.pdf
Statistical profile of the state of Alaska based on the latest census data. Includes demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics. Provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. In PDF format (requires Acrobat Reader).
'''Project Vote Smart - American Government, Elections, Candidates and Voting'''
http://www.vote-smart.org/
Project Vote Smart, a volunteer organization, provides a database of information on U.S. political candidates (at all levels) and issues, with links to many other political/social sources. Can be searched by ZIP Code or browsed by state ("My State").
'''SSEC - Volcano Watch Satellite Images'''
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/volcano.html
Satellite images (updated every 30 min.) of the world's ten most active volcanoes, located in Alaska, Sicily, Mexico, Kamchatka, Montserrat, Guatemala, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, and Java. An animation feature shows a simulation over a two-hour period.
'''State and Local Government on the Net: Alaska'''
http://www.statelocalgov.net/state-ak.htm
Directory of official state, county, and city government Web sites for Alaska. Maintained by Piper Resources, an Internet publishing firm.
'''Stateline.org'''
http://www.stateline.org/
The Web site of the Pew Center on the States, University of Richmond, focuses on politics at the state level, providing current and archived news items, background information and statistics on prominent issues, and profiles of the individual states.
'''The Iditarod SuperSite'''
http://www.dogsled.com/
In addition to providing information on the Iditarod, more data is included on mushers, Iditarod history, race rules, and the trail, along with links to related Web sites.
'''The Russian Church and Native Alaskan Cultures'''
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/russian/
Russian Church and Native Alaskan Culture exhibit, mounted by the Library of Congress, is comprised of numerous images and documents, mostly written in Russian and in the Alaskan native languages, and accompanied by an introductory text.
'''Travel Alaska'''
http://www.travelalaska.com/
Web site of the Alaska Travel Industry Association features a clickable map leading to information on attractions, accommodations, state and national parks, and communities in five different regions. Includes a trip planner, maps, and a photo gallery.
'''Welcome to Alaska's Digital Archive'''
http://vilda.alaska.edu/
Wealth of historical photographs, oral histories, moving images, maps, documents, and other materials from libraries, museums, and archives throughout the state. A project of the University of Alaska and the Alaska State Library.
'''Wild-Eyed Alaska, An Educational Exploration into Alaskan Wildlife'''
http://www.hhmi.org/alaska/
Gull Island in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, is the setting for video cameras set up by the Pratt Museum to show seabirds, underwater life, and scenes of winter--all with explanatory text. Viewing the images requires Real Player software.
'''World View of Global Warming'''
http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/
Web site illustrates the effects of global warming with photos and graphs. Includes sections on polar regions (Antarctica, Alaska), other climatic zones, glaciers, coastlines, and paleoclimate. Created by Gary Braasch of the Blue Earth Alliance, Seattle.
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[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[State_Name:=Alaska]]
[[Country_Name:=United States]]
[[State_Code:=AK]]
[[Country_Code:=US]]
