The Alaska Purchase: How the U.S. Acquired Alaska from Russia in 1867

Alaska was acquired by the United States from the Russian Empire on October 18, 1867, through the Alaska Purchase treaty. Negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian Minister Eduard de Stoeckl, the U.S. paid $7.2 million (approx. $113.9 million today) for the territory, then known as Russian America.

Tsar Alexander II decided to sell due to financial difficulties from the Crimean War and difficulty defending Alaska from potential U.S. or British invasion. The U.S. wanted Alaska for its strategic location and abundant natural resources (fish, fur, timber, minerals). The purchase was controversial at the time but proved valuable for economy, defense, and conservation.