Personal blog about states
The purchase of Alaska in 1867 marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements to the Pacific coast of North America , and became an important step in the United States rise as a great power in the Asia-Pacific region.
1959
Alaska
Alaska Alax̂sxax̂ ( Aleut ) Alaasikaq (Inupiaq) Anáaski (Tlingit) Alas’kaaq (Pacific Gulf Yupik) | |
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Country | United States |
Before statehood | Territory of Alaska |
Admitted to the Union | January 3, 1959 (49th) |
Capital | Juneau |
ALASKA was a Russian colony from 1744 until the USA bought it in 1867 for $7,200,000. It was made a state in 1959. Hawaii was a kingdom until 1893 and became a republic in 1894. It then ceded itself to the USA in 1898 and became a state in 1959.
There are two main reasons. First, Canada wasn’t its own country in 1867. Second, Great Britain controlled the Canadian colonies. Russia did not want to sell Alaska to its rival.
20 Things Everyone In Alaska Should Avoid At All Costs Farmed seafood. Flickr – Judi Knight. Or buying fish in general. Flickr – Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Even feeding your dogs farmed fish. Eating hot dogs. Camping without a view. Snacking on chips from the lower 48. Shopping at big corporate box stores. Drinking wine that isn’t from Alaska .
On January 3, 1959, President Eisenhower signs a special proclamation admitting the territory of Alaska into the Union as the 49th and largest state.
States and Territories Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas. California, Colorado, Connecticut. Delaware, District of Columbia. Florida. Georgia, Guam. Hawaii. Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa. Kansas, Kentucky.
In 1898, a wave of nationalism was caused by the Spanish- American War. Because of these nationalistic views, President William McKinley annexed Hawaii from the United States . It took 60 years from the time Hawaii became a United States territory until it was declared a state on August 21st, 1959.
The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles. The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice.
Delaware
Interesting Facts. Russia controlled most of the area that is now Alaska from the late 1700s until 1867, when it was purchased by U.S. Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million, or about two cents an acre.
Queen Liliuokalani attempted to restore royal powers in 1893 but was placed under house arrest by businessmen with help from the US military. Against the Queen’s wishes, the Republic of Hawaii was formed for a short time. This government agreed on behalf of Hawaii to join the US in 1898 as the Territory of Hawaii.
List of U.S. states and their order to statehood
State | Date (admitted or ratified) | |
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47 | New Mexico | January 27, 1912 (admitted) |
48 | Arizona | February 14, 1912 (admitted) |
49 | Alaska | January 3, 1959 (admitted) |
50 | Hawaii | August 21, 1959 (admitted) |
Alaska and Hawaii were the last states to join the Union — both in 1959. Joining the Union.
State | Entered Union | Year Settled |
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Alaska | Jan. 3, 1959 | 1784 |
Hawaii | Aug. 21, 1959 | 1820 |