ALASKA

Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It is more than double the size of the state of Texas. While Texas is home to almost 30 million people, less than one million people live in Alaska. Most people do not want to live in Alaska because of its cold weather.

Alaska is connected to Canada and is only 50 miles from Russia. In the late 1700s, Russian fur trappers began moving to Alaska, which was owned by Russia. Fur trappers are people who hunt animals to sell their fur.

Alaska has many animals with valuable furs, such as beavers and lynx.

In 1867, the ruler of Russia, Czar Alexander, decided to sell Alaska. When U.S. Secretary of State William Seward heard that Alaska was up for sale, he decided to buy it for the USA. He said that Alaska would help the U.S. do business with Asian countries, making it a profitable deal. Profitable business deals are those that make money. The Russians agreed to sell the entire Alaska for 7.2 million dollars. Russian soldiers lowered the Russian flag from the governor’s house and watched as the American flag was raised.

fur trapperspeople who hunt animals to sell their fur profitablebusiness deals that make money prospectors - people who search for gold industrybusiness

The Russian citizens moved back to Russia, and for many years, just a few hundred people lived in Alaska. When gold was discovered in Alaska’s rivers and mountains, a gold rush started. That is when thousands of people come to search for gold. People who search for gold are called prospectors. Many people found gold, but most made money by selling food and other products to the prospectors. The prospectors built many towns and cities, which finally brought people to live in Alaska.

On January 3, 1959, Congress passed the Alaska Statehood Act, making Alaska the 49th state. President Eisenhower signed the law with six pens. Presidents sometimes use a few pens to sign important laws and give the pens out as souvenirs. After signing the Alaska Statehood Act, the president used another few pens to sign a law adding a 49th star to the American flag.

When oil was found in Alaska in 1968, William Seward was proven correct that Alaska would be valuable for the U.S. The oil industry , or business, supports most people living in Alaska. Despite its cold weather, Alaska’s gold and oil have made it a very valuable part of the United States.