- 1. The purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, often referred to as 'Seward's Folly' or 'Seward's Icebox', marked a significant expansion of United States territory, fundamentally altering the landscape of North America. Secretary of State William H. Seward was the chief advocate of the deal, believing that acquiring Alaska would provide the U.S. with vast natural resources and strategic military advantages. The negotiation process, which culminated in a purchase agreement for $7.2 million, was met with skepticism and ridicule from some contemporaries who questioned the value of such a remote and frigid territory. However, the acquisition proved to be immensely beneficial, as the discovery of gold, oil, and other natural resources in the following decades validated Seward's vision. Alaska's unique geographic position also enhanced U.S. access to the Pacific and Arctic regions, contributing to international trade and military strategy, particularly during the Cold War era. This momentous transaction is now celebrated as a pivotal moment in American history, illustrating the nation's commitment to expansion and the pursuit of new opportunities.
When did America buy Alaska from Russia?
A) 1901
B) 1867
C) 1776
D) 1849
- 2. How much did America pay for Alaska?
A) $1 billion
B) $100,000
C) $10 million
D) $7.2 million
- 3. Who was the US Secretary of State that negotiated the purchase of Alaska?
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Andrew Jackson
C) William Seward
D) Abraham Lincoln
- 4. Which country governed Alaska before it was purchased by America?
A) Canada
B) England
C) France
D) Russia
- 5. What is the nickname given to the purchase of Alaska?
A) Northern Purchase
B) Seward's Folly
C) Alaska Deal
D) Russian Buyout
- 6. What is the capital city of Alaska?
A) Anchorage
B) Sitka
C) Juneau
D) Fairbanks
- 7. Which animal serves as the state bird of Alaska?
A) Puffin
B) Moose
C) Willow Ptarmigan
D) Bald Eagle
- 8. What was the original name of Alaska when the Russians first settled there?
A) Alaskaland
B) Russian America
C) Seward's Land
D) Cold Terra
- 9. Which US President officially ratified the purchase of Alaska by the US Senate?
A) Ronald Reagan
B) Theodore Roosevelt
C) John F. Kennedy
D) Andrew Johnson
- 10. What is the name of the mountain range that extends across Alaska?
A) Rocky Mountains
B) Appalachian Mountains
C) Sierra Nevada
D) Alaska Range
- 11. Which city in Alaska was a major Russian settlement before the US purchase?
A) Fairbanks
B) Nome
C) Sitka
D) Anchorage
- 12. Alaska is known as the Land of the Midnight _____?
A) Sun
B) Stars
C) Aurora
D) Moon
- 13. What is the state flower of Alaska?
A) Wild Rose
B) Forget-Me-Not
C) Bluebell
D) Fireweed
- 14. What is the largest city in Alaska by population?
A) Fairbanks
B) Anchorage
C) Sitka
D) Juneau
- 15. Which explorer is credited with first sighting Alaska in 1741?
A) James Cook
B) Vitus Bering
C) John Cabot
D) Sir Francis Drake
- 16. What is the state sport of Alaska?
A) Snowboarding
B) Ice Hockey
C) Cross-Country Skiing
D) Dog Mushing
- 17. In what body of water is Alaska's capital city located?
A) Bering Sea
B) Gastineau Channel
C) Cook Inlet
D) Prince William Sound
- 18. What is the most popular fish caught in Alaska?
A) Salmon
B) Cod
C) Trout
D) Halibut
- 19. Which Russian tsar approved the sale of Alaska to the United States?
A) Nicholas II
B) Ivan the Terrible
C) Alexander II
D) Catherine the Great
- 20. What is the native name for Alaska's native people?
A) Cherokee
B) Sioux
C) Navajo
D) Inuit
- 21. Who was the Russian minister who handled the negotiations for the sale of Alaska to the US?
A) Eduard de Stoeckl
B) Vladimir Putin
C) Czar Alexander II
D) Joseph Stalin
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