History-of-Alaska

          A few other names for Alaska are ‘Territory of Baranov’, named after Alexander Baranov, who was the continent’s early Russian leader, ‘Russian America’, before the US bought it in 1867, and ‘Seward's Folly’, or ‘Seward's Icebox’, named after Secretary of State William Henry Seward, who had proposed the purchase and the name 'Alaska'.

          It was when Abraham Lincoln was the president of the US that Seward had begun negotiations for a deal with Russia in order to purchase Alaska for $7.2 million, which comes to 2 cents per acre. Seward had been appointed Secretary of State in 1861.

          Author Zachary Kent write in his book 'William Seward: the Mastermind of the Alaska Purchase', that Seward had invited senators for dinner to his house on a number of occasions. It was during those informal gatherings that Seward would sell ‘Russian America’ to them, with descriptions of the beautiful land.

          The deal between Russia and the US was signed on March, 30, 1867. It passed through the U.S. Senate on May 27, 1867. And, it was under President Andre Johnson that the final treaty was ultimately signed on May 28, 1867. The transfer happened on October 18, 1867, in Sitka.

          Most Americans referred to the deal as 'Seward’s folly' or 'Seward’s icebox', because of Alaska’s inhospitable surroundings with nothing else but snow. The perception soon changed, thanks to all the gold, oil and tourists.

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