So you think that we stole Alaska?

Question

Alaska Purchase

Acquisition in 1867 by the U.S. from Russia of 586,412 sq mi (1.5 million sq km) at the northwestern tip of North America, comprising the current U.S. state of Alaska. The territory, held by Russia since 1741, was considered an economic liability, and in 1866 it was offered for sale. Pres. Andrew Johnson's secretary of state, William Seward, negotiated its purchase for $7.2 million, or about two cents per acre. Critics labeled the purchase “Seward's Folly.” Congressional opposition delayed the appropriation until 1868, when extensive lobbying and bribes by the Russian minister to the U.S. secured the required votes.

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Answer 1

We sure bought it fair and square ... so now all we have to wait for is 12 million Russians coming across Alaska, waving their flags and screaming "this is our land, we were here first .. you owe us jobs and welfare" .... :)

Answer 2

Why does it matter now? Really? We've gone global warming threatening to end the planet forever. Don't we have better things to think about? How about a cure for cancer I would enjoy that one. How about the millions of children in Africa who no longer have parents because of HIV/AIDS? Give that one some thought with you? I would appreciate a solution to any of these real problems. Were you planning on mailing Russia back the land? Get real.

Answer 3

The United States did not steal Alaska. That was a good buy in those days.

Answer 4

The Russians sold it and we bought it. Bribes are just a part of the political system (especially in Russia)

It's not our fault it was chock full of gold and oil

P.S. We did steal Hawaii

Answer 5

Alaska was fine. But the lower 48 was stolen from the indians.

Answer 6

Thanx for the history lesson - I never did understand it this way, in school - - -
Sounds as if this government bought it, fair and square - rather than our barbaric ancestors' tactic of slash and burn, conquer and control.

So - your question is what, again? Did the US steal Alaska ---- guess not, huh?

Answer 7

While we did buy it fair and square from Russia, did Russia steal it? The answer to that would be yes, so basically we bought stolen property.

Answer 8

what is Alaska? joking.. i think we stole Alaska because we were insulting Russia at that time by farting on the Russian embassy so they told us to like stop it so we said give us alaska (the very big polar bear garden) and they said sure but we need money you know cause we have to build this pyramid..lol

Answer 9

Who cares how the heck we acquired it, all that matters is it's ours and unbeknownst to most Americans it's chock full of enough oil to last the U.S. close to 35 years.

Answer 10

European Colonizers, raped, killed and robbed for all the land they call america now. They're mad that so many people from other countries are simply entering their stolen property.