When Did Alaska Become a State?
If you love learning about the United States and the development of the country, you may be interested in knowing when did Alaska become a state? Alaska is actually the largest state in the United States, and has almost seven hundred thousand residents. The majority of these residents live within, or close to Anchorage. The state is over a thousand miles in length, and over two thousand miles in width. One of the most interesting states in the union, it has a long and storied history.
Before European contact, Alaska was inhabited by a number of different Native American and Inuit groups. For example, the Inupiat and the Yup’ik were two Native American groups that occupied Alaska. The first non-Native American inhabitants were fur traders from Siberia.
In the late eighteenth century, a number of different hunting and trading posts were established for the purpose of hunting and trading fur. In 1784, a Russian explorer named Grigory Ivanovich Shelikhov established the first permanent Russian settlement in Alaska.
This settlement was on the Three Saints Bay in Alaska. After only a few short years, numerous Russian settlements were established throughout the Cook Inlet area of Alaska. These Russian settlements would encourage Native Americans to convert to the Russian Orthodox faith. Shortly after these settlements were formed, missionaries and clergymen travelled to Alaska from Russia to promote conversion. There were about seven hundred Russians in Alaska at the height of their occupation.
The Sale of Alaska
However, by 1867, Russia was in financial trouble. The combination of this need for money and the wish to keep Alaska free from British occupation, Russia was willing to sell its land in Alaska to the United States. In particular, the U.S. Secretary of State—William Seward—rallied behind the purchase of the land.
On April 9, 1867, Alaska was purchased for a little over seven million dollars. Although the Senate had approved the purchase, the majority of the population did not agree with it. Seward was vilified in the newspaper, and the purchase of Alaska was referred to as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox.” Yet, this isn’t the answer to when did Alaska become a state.
The Department of Alaska
After Alaska was purchased, the United States created a “Department of Alaska” which had control of the territory. This Department lasted for a little over ten years, from 1867 to 1884. During this time, very little was done for the development of Alaska. In 1884, the United States reorganized the region. The Department of Alaska was changed to the District of Alaska.
Shortly after this change took place, gold was discovered close to Alaska. Specifically, gold was discovered in the Yukon Territory, in Canada. Numerous individuals traveled from mainland United States to Alaska with the hope of finding gold. In 1899, gold was found in Alaska, in Nome, Alaska. The influx of individuals to Alaska also meant that towns had to be built, and the region was further developed. In 1902, the construction of a railroad in Alaska began. The railroad connected Seward to Fairbanks.
When Did Alaska Become a State?
In 1912, Congress passed the Second Organic Act. This yet again reorganized Alaska, and changed the name to the Territory of Alaska. During this time, the first discussion of Alaska’s statehood began. It was brought to the attention of Congress by James Wickersham, but it failed to pass. The population of Alaska at that time was not interested in becoming a state.
However, after World War II, the question of Alaskan statehood was brought before Congress yet again. The invasion of two areas of Alaska by the Japanese highlighted the importance of the territory for the United States. This, combined with the discovery of oil in Alaska, influenced Congress to promote the idea that Alaska become a state.
On July 7, 1958, Dwight Eisenhower signed the Alaskan Statehood Act. So, officially when did Alaska become a state? On January 3, 1959 Alaska was officially admitted to the United States.