Why the Purchase of Alaska Was Far From “Folly”

History.com ^ | March 30, 2017 | Jesse Greenspan

[Enchante]

Though mocked by some at the time, the March 30, 1867, purchase of Alaska from Russia for just $7.2 million is now regarded as a masterful deal, thanks to its architect, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward.

The treaty enlarged the United States by 586,000 square miles, an area more than twice the size of Texas, all for the bargain price of around two cents an acre. Yet because some politicians and journalists considered Alaska a barren wasteland— and inherently opposed anything supported by President Andrew Johnson—it became popularly known as “Seward’s Folly” ....

[Enchante]

Today is the 150th anniversary of the US purchase of Alaska. Smeared by some as "Seward's Folly".... but in economic terms alone it turned out to be a tremendous bargain. Then there are the strategic implications, ofc.

Interesting times.....

The article notes that there was much corruption involved in getting the purchase/treaty approved by the Senate.

[KC_Lion]

Big Alaska Ping!

[Enchante]

[Enchante]

[Sacajaweau]

I swear they only named it that so we pay attention in class. Folly you say?? How exciting said the children.

IIRC, lotsa questions about the Louisiana Purchase, too. And the annexation of Texas.

[Enchante]

Latest libtard headline:

Donald Trump wants to give Alaska back to Putin!!!

(jk jk jk jk jk)

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

We call it corruption today, but back then it was legal, and they took it to extremes. Not just in the senate, but also in the house, it has been estimated that the bribes *exceeded* the membership by at least 300%. That is, every single congressman and senator got at least 3 bribes on average.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Can you imagine what trying to defend Canada during the Cold War would have been like otherwise?

[Sivad]

I thought this was settled long ago.
As for me I plan to move to Alaska to strike it
rich in the reality TV show field. Not sure but
I am leaning toward Alaska sea lion bbq competitions
or, possibly, deluxe portable igloo real estate sales.

[colorado tanker]

The shenanigans associated with buying Alaska were childs’ play compared to the Credit Mobilier scandal just a couple of years later.

[Rummyfan]

Seward's Folly? Hardly. The best $7M the U.S. government ever spent.

[Flick Lives]

“Yet because some politicians and journalists considered Alaska a barren wasteland— and inherently opposed anything supported by President Andrew Johnson...”

---

There’s a familiar ring to that sentence.

[BuffaloJack]

I’ve been to Seward’s Mansion dozens of times. My aunt actually owns it.

[Enchante]

so cool....

[Mr. K]

is she single?

[Enchante]

"“Signing of the Alaska Treaty” by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, depicts William H. Seward (seated by the desk) and Russian envoy Eduard de Stoeckl (standing by the globe). The painting, from the collection of the Seward House Museum, Auburn, New York, is on display this spring and summer at the Anchorage Museum. (Image courtesy of Seward House Museum)"

[BuffaloJack]

> is she single?
She’s a widow and 87 years old.

[Mr. K]

Does she still like to party??????