On this day, January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States of America. Purchased from Russia on March 30, 1867, for the total sum of 7.2 million dollars, Alaska was later organized into a territory on May 11, 1912. One of two U.S. states not connected to the 48 contiguous states, Alaska is the largest state, and yet ranks 47th in total population with the lowest population density in the U.S.
History
Exploration of Alaska began in the early 1700s by the Russians. In 1741 an expedition was led by Vitus Bering for the Russian Navy, and in 1784 the first settlement was established. Three primary groups of Alaska natives lived in Alaska at the time that the first groups of Europeans arrived — the Aleuts inhabiting the Aleutian Island chain in the west, the Eskimos residing in the northern regions including the North Slope region, and a diverse group of Indians living in the interior regions. The Russian-American Company was created as a semi-official arm of the Russian government to manage the Russian colony in Alaska. They established Sitka as the capital, and in the early 1800s, began to increase settlement of the area.
In 1860 the U.S. government, in keeping with the “Manifest Destiny” doctrine of gaining more control of the North American continent, began assessing Russia’s willingness to sell Alaska. At the time, Russia was nearing the end of a civil war, the Russian-American Company was in serious financial trouble, and the Russian government could not provide the funds required to keep the company afloat. On March 29, 1867, Russian Minister Edward de Stoeckl informed U.S. Secretary of State Henry Seward that the Czar had agreed to sell Russian interests in Alaska to the U.S. The two drafted a treaty that night, and on June 20 of the same year President Andrew Johnson signed the treaty in which Russia agreed to relinquish control of Alaska for 7.2 million dollars in gold, or $0.02 per acre, and the right to retain all property it held. On October 18, 1867, the transfer was completed, the transaction becoming known as “Seward’s Folly.”
From 1939 to 1941 the military presence in Alaska grew from 1,000 to 35,000 soldiers as tensions between the U.S. and Japan grew, resulting in new roads, airfields, and military bases. In June 1942, Japan invaded the islands of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Island chain. This was the first time since the War of 1812 that American soil had been occupied by hostile troops. In May 1943 the occupying troops on the island of Attu were defeated by American troops. On August 15, 1943, a combined force of American and Canadian troops attacked the island of Kiska only to find that it had been abandoned by the Japanese.
In 1955 the territorial legislature of Alaska authorized the formation of a constitutional convention as a push toward statehood gained steam. In April 1956 the state constitution was written and approved by voters, and two senators and one representative were sent to Washington, D.C. Although the U.S. Congress did not recognize these elected officials, their effective lobbying for Alaskan statehood resulted in the Alaska Statehood Bill, signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In August, Alaskans accepted the federal law and later that year voted for their first state officials. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was proclaimed to be the 49th state.
Geography
Alaska is the largest of the 50 states in the United States with a land area of almost 600,000 square miles. Over 65% of the state is owned and managed by the U.S. federal government, with private property amounting to approximately 1% of the total acreage of the state. It has the longest coastline of any of the states, actually longer than all of the other states combined. Alaska can also claim to be the most eastern, the most western, and the most northern state in the U.S., stretching across both sides of the international date line. Juneau, the capital, is not connected by road to the rest of the state or to the rest of the North American Highway system, but must be reached by ferry.
The Alaskan climate varies over its immense size from mid-Atlantic oceanic to subarctic. The highest temperature recorded was 100°F at Fort Yukon on June 27, 1915. The lowest was -80°F at Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971. Due to its diverse ecosystem, Alaska is the home of caribou, wolves, polar bears, grizzly bears, moose, walrus, mountain goats, otters, and foxes.
Economy
Starting in the early 1890s and lasting for a period of about 20 years a series of gold rushes began bringing many new settlers and miners into Alaska. During this period the Iditarod Trail became the main route through Alaska and was used to transport supplies to the villages along the trail all the way to Nome.
Today oil and oil field services dominate economic activity in Alaska, the state receiving nearly 80% of its revenues from this industry. The first oil well in Alaska was drilled in 1896. Additional exploration eventually led to the discovery and production of oil near Katalla on the Gulf of Alaska. Production ended after a refinery fire in 1933, disabling the plant. No additional production occurred in Alaska until the discovery of the Swanson River Field on the Kenia Peninsula in 1957. In 1968 Atlantic Richfield hit oil in Prudhoe Bay which turned out to be the largest oil field ever discovered in North America. Also discovered on the North Slope of Alaska was North America’s second largest oil field. From 1974 to 1977 construction of the Trans Alaska Pipeline was underway. Once completed, the 800-mile, 48-inch-diameter pipe could carry more then 2 million barrels per day from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez where they are loaded onto tankers for transportation. Since the completion of the pipeline, and due to huge revenues generated by oil production and transportation for the state, the personal income tax rate has dropped from 14.5%, which was the highest rate in the U.S., to 0%.
Interesting Alaska Facts
- Alaska is in size nearly equivalent to 20% of the other states in the Union combined.
- Alaska is the only state within the Eastern Hemisphere.
- The northern lights can usually be seen in Alaska from August to April.
- In Barrow, Alaska, there is no sunshine from November 18 to January 24.
- The sun does not set in Borrow, Alaska, from May 10 to August 2.
- The capital, Juneau, was founded in 1880 by gold rushers.
Suggestions
Label the following on a map of Alaska (see Notebooking Pages below):
- Juneau (state capital)
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Pt. Barrow
- The Arctic Circle
- Bering Strait
- Mt. McKinley
- Canada
- The Pacific Ocean
- The Arctic Ocean
Further Investigation
Quick Facts
- The 49th State
- Admitted to the Union January 3, 1959
- Nickname: “The Last Frontier”
- State Song
- State Symbols of Alaska
- State Facts
- State Flag and State Flag Information
- State Quarter
- State Bird
- State Seal
Find Alaska Info!
Student information download at Alaska.gov that includes map, basic facts, and state symbols.
Check For Alaska
Copy of the check that purchased what would become the 49th state.
A Brief History of Alaska Statehood
Complete description of events leading to statehood. Great for older/interested students.
The Geography of Alaska
In-depth (and interesting) look at the physical geography of the state.
Alaska by Region
Discusses the features of the five geographic regions of the state.
Climate Comparison
Chart showing seasonal temperatures and precipitation for several Alaskan cities.
Daylight
In some areas of Alaska, the sun doesn’t set for 84 days!
Elected Officials
Alaska elected officials.
Activities
Alaska Recipes
Cook up something the Alaska way!
Alaska Map and Quiz Printout
From EnchantedLearning.com.
Interactive Writing Tool {Free}
Create a state brochure using this interactive printing press.
Interactive Map Maker
Make and label your own map of Alaska.
The U.S.: 50 States Map Quiz
Locate each state at Seterra.com.
Books
Mik-Shrok by Gloria Repp
Two young missionaries are in the unsettled Alaskan Territory in 1950. Mik-Shrok and his fellow huskies are an answer to a prayer. Exciting first book in the Adventures of an Arctic Missionary series.
The Alaska Gold Rush by May McNeer
One of the popular Landmark Series books.
Stickeen by John Muir
Quick but exciting read about dog, man, and the cold regions of Alaska. In the public domain.
My State Notebook
From A Beka. “A basic guide to help students collect and learn the facts that are unique to their state as well as beginning research skills.”
Civics Activity Book
Also from A Beka, but written for a higher level than the above title, this activity book guides state research “in a study of national, state, and local government with a brief overview of the Constitution and a variety of interesting activity sheets. In addition to government, students also study the history, geography, and other characteristics of their state and local areas.” We have enjoyed many of the activities in this book, which include writing letters to state officials, researching the state history and other activities.
State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book
Inexpensive option from Dover Publishing. Also check out their United States Coloring Book that has a state outline, symbols, and facts on one page.
Unit Studies & Lesson Plans
The Migration North to Alaska
A “Teaching With Documents” lesson plan from the National Archives covering The Alaska Purchase Treaty, The Cancelled Check and Receipt, the Gold Rush, natural resources, modes of transportation, migration and settlement, homesteading and citizenship, and statehood. Students examine and evaluate documents in these open-ended investigations assisted by a Document Analysis Worksheet and a Photograph Analysis Worksheet.
Free Nature Studies: Water and Ice
Information on glaciers.
Iditarod: A Unit Study
Lots of resources for exploring the famous Alaskan race.
Beaver
Unit study on the beavers of Alaska.
My State {Free Unit Study}
A recommended state study unit that covers civics, history, geography, language arts, applied math, science, and art, culminating in a personalized state notebook. We have also included additional go-along resources.
State History Outline & Projects
A wealth of original ideas and projects for making any state study a work of art!
Studying the 50 United States
Suggestions for a unit on any state from LearningTreasures.com.
Printables & Notebooking Pages
Alaska State Maps for Notebook
- Alaska State Map
- Alaska State Highway Map
- Population Map
- County Map
- Federal Lands and Indian Reservations
- Blank Outline Map
Alaska State Facts Coloring Pages for Notebook
- State Flag Sheet
At Flags-to-Print.com. - State Bird & Flower Sheet
- State Flower Sheet
- State Bird Sheet
- State Coloring Page (Combined facts and symbols)
U.S. States and Capitals Map
Color Alaska and write in the capital on this printable at PrintableMaps.net.
Alaska Notebooking Pages
Simple pages for copywork, narrations, recording state facts, or wrapping up.
View all of our state unit studies:
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