The two chief products of American diplomacy in the decade between 1867 and 1877 were the purchase of Alaska, and the treaty of Washington with Great Britain.
The purchase of Alaska, the northwest corner of the North American continent, together with the islands adjacent thereto, a vast
The purchase
of Alaska.
The proposition came from the side of Russia, and it appeared that Russia was more eager to sell than the United States was to buy. The
The reasons
for and against
the purchase.
On the other hand, such men as General Banks and Mr. Stevens contended that from the point of view of a business transaction alone it was worth the money; and Mr. Higby, of California, told his colleagues that they were mistaken in regard to the climate of the region. The consideration, however, which seems to have had most weight was gratitude toward Russia, whose government had manifested the most friendly feeling for the Union in the struggle against the giant rebellion, and had even threatened interference in behalf of the Union against interference in behalf of the Confederacy by any other European state. That acute observer of political opinion, Mr. Blaine, affirmed that a like offer from any other European government would most probably have been declined.
It is, however, almost certain that Mr. Seward had another very profound reason for making the purchase, one which he could not very
A real political
reason for
the purchase.