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Library of Congress Research Guides

Alaska Purchase Treaty: Primary Documents in American History

In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million. This guide provides access to digital materials at the Library of Congress, links to external websites, and a print bibliography.

Introduction

On March 30, 1867, the United States reached an agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million. The Treaty with Russia was negotiated and signed by Secretary of State William Seward and Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl. Critics of the deal to purchase Alaska called it "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox." Opposition to the purchase of Alaska subsided with the Klondike Gold Strike in 1896.

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