Module IV - Competition and Geopolitical Forces- The Sale of Alaska

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Alaska Purchase U.S. Treasury Warrant
VILDA  ASL-P62-204A

Essential Questions:

• How is the experience of Russian America an example of 18th-19th century imperialism and colonialism?
• What was the nature of cultural contact between the Europeans of Russian America and the Natives of Alaska? 
• What is the legacy of the Russian colonization of Alaska?

Signing of Treaty of Cession, March 30, 1867;  Chief Architects
William H. Seward, Russian Diplomat Eduard de Stoeckl,  Charles Sumner
VILDA  ASL-P20-181

ENGAGE
Seward's Folly, indeed!  There is so much to consider about the sale of Alaska - long before the deal was made and the Treasury Warrant cut. In this segment, let's spend some time at the Alaska History course site and dig deeper into Seward's wisdom and our good fortune.

EXPLORE

Northwestern America Showing Territory Ceded 
by Russia to the United States  1880
VILDA  ASL-G4370-1880.M4-MapCase

From the Alaska History course, section on Russia's Colony, read these brief articles:

•  Russian Gets Some Competition from Spain

• The English - and Captain Cook - Step In

• The Europeans Fight Over Alaska

• The Sale of Russian America

From Alaska's Heritage, read these chapters:

• Chapter 3-9 Spanish....Contacts With Russian America

• Chapter 3-10 American Contact With Russian America

EXAMINE

• What other nations were interested in Alaska, and why were they interested?
• Relations between the Russian-America Company and the merchant ships from other nations ranged from absolute competition to circumstances of mutual benefit. Explain.
• What were the national and international geopolitical forces that resulted in the Russian sale of Alaska?
• Why did the United States buy Alaska, and why was there a delay of about a decade between Russia's first interest in selling and the 1867 purchase by the Americans?
• What were the major terms of the Treaty of Cession, and specifically, what does the Treaty of Cession state about the indigenous population of Alaska?

EXTEND
These readings nicely summarize the international political and economic environment of the era of Russian America.  While the 1867 Treaty of Cession ended Alaska's official status as a colony, the next modules will present content that may lead one to ask if U.S. government policies toward Alaska extended a practice of colonialism from which Alaska is still emerging.  With that in mind, keep your information antennae attuned to connections and cause-effect relationships.  They're there.  

• How might you use these resources and information in your work? 
• How does the history of Alaska as a colony pertain to your community?

What's Next?

Now it's your turn to Blog It!