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In 1867, the United States - led by Secretary of State William Seward - agreed to purchase the territory of Alaska from the Russian government - for $7.2m. Many people mocked the purchase - saying the land was useless. They called it "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox". Little did they understand what had been acquired. This is the story of one of the best buys ever made by the United States government - the purchase of Alaska.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Purchase
https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/treaties/sumners-alaskan-project.htm
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alaska_purchase.jpg
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History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected]
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By Matt and McKinley Breen4.8
9696 ratings
In 1867, the United States - led by Secretary of State William Seward - agreed to purchase the territory of Alaska from the Russian government - for $7.2m. Many people mocked the purchase - saying the land was useless. They called it "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox". Little did they understand what had been acquired. This is the story of one of the best buys ever made by the United States government - the purchase of Alaska.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Purchase
https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/treaties/sumners-alaskan-project.htm
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alaska_purchase.jpg
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).
History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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