On this date in 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for the price of $7 million which worked out to about $.02 per acre. This purchase was known at the time as Seward's Folly after Secretary of State William Seward who arranged the purchase. Seward was also in charge of trying to get the Senate to ratify the treaty authorizing the purchase. The treaty was ratified on April 9th but it passed by a single vote.
Think of that. If one person changed their vote from yes to no - Alaska might not be part of the US today
Good history lesson, I did not know the history of the single vote margin. Someday I will make it to Alaska.
ReplyDeleteThe Alaska Purchase, also known as Seward’s Folly, was approved by the United States Senate on October 28, 1867, with a vote of 37 to 2. The two senators who voted against the purchase were Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Zachariah Chandler of Michigan.
ReplyDeleteYes - but it was first approved by the Congress by a single vote. Particularly important to me because my friend was elected to Congress by a single vote.
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