i already know that part of america wanting land, but why didnt russia want it anymore. i also herd that there was gold in alaska????????
2006-09-28 04:38:51 · 12 answers · asked by Sunshine. 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
At the time of the purchase, America was still in a expansive mood. NO ONE knew of any resources in Alaska then. Oil was not a biggie for anyone. Alaska was even called "Stewart's Folly" (Stewart was a secretary of the interior) and a waste of federal money. (The dang place went for about 10 cents per square mile!)
Stewart wanted to simplify the map of North America and to block the British in Canada from further expansion as the USA and the British Empire were still not the best of friends.
Also, the Russians felt they could never have a firm hold on such a distance colony, needed some cash in a hurry because of a pending war with the Ottoman Empire and the Tzar on the throne at the time was a bit wacky.
It was strictly a move by the USA to secure the last major piece of real estate still open in North America.
End of story.
2006-09-28 05:27:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Search for info on a Senator named Seward. Most people thought he was nuts. Nobody had any clue there was gold or oil there. For Russia, Alaska was just so far away from Moscow. They had not even explored most of Siberia yet. It seemed like a lot of money but very few people had a clue just how big Alaska was.
2006-09-28 04:50:11 · answer #2 · answered by Alan J 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's gold, oil, minerals, timber, fur, fish, tourism, and more. But at that time, it wasn't known. Also, according to wikipedia, the russians were hurting for money, and thought that the brits would just take Alaska. So they sold it while they could.
2006-09-28 04:46:26 · answer #3 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Russia was needing money badly, and they were willing to sell the land for cheap...and Alaska is awsome! My sister lives there, and it's beautiful! Not only was there the gold and oil in those hills, there is extremely tasty salmon, rich timber, and lots of other great natural resources.
2006-09-28 04:48:08 · answer #4 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In addition to the minerals the purchase was in 3 words, strategic military positioning.
2006-09-28 04:44:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's real estate baby, u can't lose. Because one day through technological advances ppl might be able to live there (i mean REALLY able, not the eskimo kind, lol). Plus, there's is oil in Alaska, they just don't know how to extract it because ice is very unstable.
2006-09-28 04:44:22 · answer #6 · answered by alkoulaki 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Purchase
They didn't find the gold until after the US had already bought Alaska
2006-09-28 04:47:42 · answer #7 · answered by grisgris0905 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was bargain-priced at the time, but even so, the American people called it "Seward's Folly." Turned out to have been a pretty good value after all.
2006-09-28 04:47:34 · answer #8 · answered by Jack430 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
gold oil. and the simple fact that the land is a strategic hold for our country, if the russians have it they are at our back door, if we have it we can attack and defend better.
2006-09-28 05:32:48 · answer #9 · answered by who be boo? 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Gold and oil
2006-09-28 04:41:05 · answer #10 · answered by tsihilin 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋