Alaska's History

1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200

Colonial

Bering's First Journey

The First Russian Contact in Alaska The Russians Use Alaska

Cook's Voyage

First Permanent Russian Settlement

Baranov Named First Russian Governor
Territory

Purchase of Alaska Population and Settlements Exploration and Mapping of Alaskas Land Gold Rush Constitutional Convention Territorial Organic Act of 1912 The Territory of Alaska
Federal Influence in the Territory World War II Event in Alaska

Anti-Discrimination Act
Statehood

Statehood Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Anchorage Earthquake ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act)

 Alaska Permanent Fund Established ANILCA ( Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act)

Colonial
Bering's First Journey February 6, 1725 - August, 1728 Vitus Berings first journey was also known as the First Kamchatka Expedition. He left from Russia to explore the northern part of the Pacific Ocean and wanted to confirm the presence of a straight between Asia and North America.Vitus went through the Bering Sea to the Chukchi Sea. Although he didnt reach North America he still proved the 2 continents werent connected.

The First Russian Contact in Alaska 1732 The Russians had been exploring for quite a few years before they found Alaska, since the tenth century to be exact. When they finally discovered Alaska they soon realized they werent the first. Whether being greeted by an ambush of arrows from Eskimos or a simple canoe coming to meet their boat, the Russians were determined to stay in Alaska.

The Russians Use Alaska 1741 Today Alaskas natural resources are its savior, but when the Russians arrived, it was their downfall. The Russians main goal was fur, and theyd do anything to get it. They forced the Aleut hunters to get the animals by taking their women and children as hostages, the native people were also struck with diseases that killed many. Although treated horribly by the Russians, the native people- and animals- today are strong and proud. Cook's Voyage August, 1768 - July 12, 1771 James Cooks first voyage was to observe the 1769 transit of Venus and to seek evidence of the unknown southern land. He departed from Plymouth and observed the transit from Tahiti. James then went to some Pacific Islands and eventually reached New Zealand in September of 1769 where he charted it for six months. Him and his crew then went to Australia where they were the first Europeans to reach the east coast and then they went home.

First Permanent Russian Settlement 1784 The first permanent Russian settlement in Alaska was founded by Grigory Shelikhov on Kodiak Island. He and his wife lived there along with 200 men. Unfortunately it was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami only eight years after its establishment, in 1792. Baranov Named First Russian Governor 1799 - 1818 Alexander Baranov was named the first Russian governor of Alaska. He reported to the board of directors who then reported to the first tsar and then

various government departments. In 1808 he moved the colonial capital from Kodiak to Sitka. At the age of 71 he became ill and Leontii Hagemeister took control in January of 1818. Alexander died on his way back to Russia in 1819.

Territory
Purchase of Alaska March 30, 1867 On March 30, 1867, President Andrew Johnson bought Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars. He received encouragement from the Secretary of State William Seward. They were given much gruff for it and many people called the purchase " Sewards Folly". Nonetheless, Alaska was formally transferred to the US on October 18, 1867.

Population and Settlements

July, 1867 Alaska has long been known as one of the least populated states, but as soon as Alaska was purchased by the US many things increased the population. Army posts, cannery sites, mission stations, and whaling stations all brought the population up, but none of them did as much as mining and the discovery of oil. Along with all of the new people, new towns were created and traditions that make Alaska the culturally diverse state that it is. Exploration and Mapping of Alaskas Land 1883 Most mapping and exploration in Alaska was the result of people coming for salmon canneries, fur, and mineral resources, who wanted to explore the land. Some of the main explorers in the upper Yukon River valley were Lt. Fredrick Schwatka and Lt. Henry T. Allen. While in the Northwest area the largest explorers were the Navy and the Revenue Marine Service. With so many people mapping and exploring, most of the major mountains and rivers had been mapped by 1900. Gold Rush August 16, 1896 Skookum Jim, Dawson Charlie, and George Carmack were the first to find gold in Rabbit Creek in 1896. It wasnt until nearly 11 months later that the rush finally began and people started coming to Alaska. Within six months 100000 gold seekers set off for the Yukon and only 30000 completed the trip. There were two main passages that the pioneers took; Chilkoot Trail, which was very steep and difficult, and White Pass Trail, which started in Skagway, a town that was very corrupt with outlaws.

Territorial Organic Act of 1912 1912 The Territorial Organic Act of 1912 was an act to create a legislative assembly in the Territory of Alaska. The legislature was forbidden to control matters related to fish and game, borrow money, create counties, or deal with the management or disposition of land. Even though they lacked power they still approved 84 bills in the first 60 day session. The Territory of Alaska 1912 Alaskas first legislature had some powers, but was forbidden to deal with natural resources, land, or money. However, even with those setbacks, they still managed to give women the right to vote, put a tax on men, amend mining laws, and regulate banks. One of the hardest things for

legislatures was how to get to Juneau because there was no town of Anchorage to go through or planes. With all of these changes some hoped for statehood for Alaska, and James Wickersham introduced the first bill to grant statehood in 1916 but was not successful. Federal Influence in the Territory 1912 - 1959 While Alaska was a territory it was mostly controlled by the federal government, unelected officials from the nine federal agencies had most of the power and 99% of the land was under federal control. Another great debate was the use of salmon traps by the canneries, which the federal government supported and made legal. During WWII more than 1 billion dollars was spent in Alaska by the government. Although good things happened when Alaska was a territory, like the Alaska Railroad and the idea that statehood was near, it was also ruled very unequally.

World War II Event in Alaska June 1942 - August 15, 1943 With the arrival of WWII Alaska noticed many changes like an increase in military presence, expansion of Alaskas transportation systems, and war itself. In the first week of June 1942, the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor and occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska. There they stayed until US soldiers fought off 2,400 Japanese soldiers on the island of Attu in May of 1943 and 6,00 Japanese on the island of Kiska. The Japanese invaders were finally out of Alaska on August 15, 1943.

Anti-Discrimination Act February 16, 1945 An act that was passed with the help of Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich providing full and equal accommodations, facilities, and privileges to all citizens in places of public accommodations within the jurisdiction of the Territory of Alaska and to provide penalties for violation. Elizabeth was the last to testify and gave a strong argument saying: I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them, of our Bill of Rights.

Constitutional Convention

February 5, 1956 This constitutional convention took place in Fairbanks at the University of Alaska. There were 55 elected delegates and it was in session for 75 days. The constitution was adopted by the delegates on February 5, 1956 and came into effect when Alaska became a state in 1958.

Statehood
Statehood January 3, 1959 The Alaska Statehood Act was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 7, 1958 and became the 49 state of the USA on January 3, 1959.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1960 This refuge is 19,286,722 acres of land in Alaskas north slope region. It is the largest national wildlife refuge in the US. There are no roads within or going into the refuge, but there are a few small native villages within. There is great debate over drilling here because of the effects it could cause on the environment and animals. Anchorage Earthquake 1964

The Anchorage Earthquake hit across south central Alaska and lasted for three minutes. It was the most powerful earthquake to hit North America and the second most powerful ever measured by seismograph in the world. It had a magnitude of 9.2 and caused around 143 deaths. There were thousands of aftershocks in the three weeks following the quake and the property damage caused by it was 2.26 billion current US dollars.

ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) December 8, 1971 This act was signed by President Richard M. Nixon and is the largest land claims settlement in US history. It was intended to resolve issues around aboriginal land claims in Alaska. ANCSA transferred land titles to 13 Alaska Native regional corporations and over 200 local village corporations. Alaska Permanent Fund Established 1976 The Alaska Permanent Fund was established by an amendment of the constitution. The fund was designed to be an investment where at least 25% of the oil money would be put into a dedicated fund for future generations who wouldnt have oil as a resource anymore. There are two parts; income and principal, and each each dividends go out to Alaskan citizens. ANILCA ( Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act) 1980 This act was passed in 1980 and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on December 2, 1980. It provided millions of acres of land to national parks, forests, reserves, and established national monuments. It also officially recognized land claims by Alaska Natives under ANCSA. Alaska Natives were also granted hunting and fishing rights in these places.

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