How did Alaska and Hawaii become United States territories?
1 Answer
Sep 2, 2017
Hawaii through mercantile interests and colonizing; Alaska was purchased outright.
Explanation:
In the late 19th century American mercantile interests were farming mostly sugar but also pineapple from the "Sandwich Islands" as Hawaii was first referred to. The American government pressured King Kamehamahea and Queen Liliokane into favoring U.S. presence over the British who had originally laid claim to the islands. In 1898 a treated was completed that made the islands a U.S. territory; it became a state in 1959.
Alaska was originally Russian Territory. Secretary of State William Seward arranged for the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million. At first this purchase was referred to as "Seward's folly." The gold rush changed all that of course.
