Changes

Republican rule of the nation meant that free enterprise and big business were favored.  There was also tremendous prosperity and the nation grew into a world power in the second half of the 1800s.

Republican rule of the nation meant that free enterprise and big business were favored.  There was also tremendous prosperity and the nation grew into a world power in the second half of the 1800s.

The country grew enormous in size when the Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, William Seward, agreed for the United States to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867.  Critics ridiculed this purchase as "Seward's Folly," describing the land as a mere "icebox".  At the time, no one knew there was oil and gold there, or that Sarah Palin would be its future governor!   

The country grew enormous in size when the Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, William Seward, formed an agreement that allowed the United States to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867.  Critics ridiculed this purchase as "Seward's Folly," describing the land as a mere "icebox".  At the time, no one knew there was oil and gold there, or that Sarah Palin would be its future governor!   

Russia needed money to pay for its defensive efforts at the time, as it felt threatened by the massive and growing British Empire.  The purchase price was $7,200,000, which was only about 1.9¢ per acre.  The Senate approved this deal nearly unanimously, but the House of Representatives delayed and was divided in authorizing the funding for it.  The property was useful in World War II in connection with Japan, and during the Cold War in dealing with the communist Soviet Union.  As Governor Sarah Palin has pointed out, one can see Russia while in Alaska.

Russia needed money to pay for its defensive efforts at the time, as it felt threatened by the massive and growing British Empire.  The purchase price was $7,200,000, which was only about 1.9¢ per acre.  The Senate approved this deal nearly unanimously, but the House of Representatives delayed and was divided in authorizing the funding for it.  The property was useful in World War II in connection with Japan, and during the Cold War in dealing with the communist Soviet Union.  As Governor Sarah Palin has pointed out, one can see Russia while in Alaska.