Module V - American Period: Alaska's Economy

Examine Question: What were the primary motivations for Americans moving to Alaska in the late 1800’s?

 According to the Alaska History and Cultural Studies site, while the United States had four main reasons for purchasing Alaska from Russia, individual Americans moved to the “Last Frontier” for three different reasons.  Three of the four reasons for the Alaskan purchase specifically involved government attachment: maintaining a good relationship with Russia, acquire British Columbia, and utilize the Asian markets.  Many employed by the government were sent to Alaska, such as soldiers, sailors, customs officials, and other representatives, to help further the country’s goals.  The Army was employed to diminish any problems with the Native populations; taking over lands inhabited by other Native societies before had resulted in hostility, and the Army was in charge of keeping any problems to a minimum.  The Navy also sent ships to Alaska to help govern the coastal waters and enforce the laws against smuggling.  Not to miss out on any possible revenue, the Treasury Department also sent officials to collect taxes.   As with any newly-acquired land, the United States government made sure to send enough employees to create a lawful, organized, and hospitable society.

With its close proximity to Asia, and lack of regular retail business, Alaska became a goldmine for enthusiastic merchants and traders.  Sitka specifically became home to many who wanted to earn livelihoods in trade and commerce.  After Russia sold the land to the United States, the Russian-American trading company cleared out but left many of their goods behind in warehouses.  According to the Alaska History and Cultural Studies site, ships sailed to San Francisco carrying items such as cloth, trousers, sheepskin coats, kettles, iron pots, copper wire, sheet lead, tools, liquor, and exotic items such as pomade, leather-bound books, and silks.  These items went not only to San Francisco, but to Hawaiian, Asian, and Russian ports as well for trade.

Sluicing for gold during the Klondike Gold Rush

The third reason Americans wanted to move to Alaska was because of the natural resources that the new state provided.  This brought fishermen, hunters, and miners to Alaska.  At least two salmon salteries operated near Sitka, one of which produced between 1,000 to 1,500 barrels of salted salmon every year (Alaska History and Cultural Studies).  Hunters came in hopes of getting into the fur trade.  Seal, bear, fox, wildcat, and sable were among the many types of furs that were traded up and down the western coast of the United States.  After the California gold rush in the mid-1800’s, many prospectors set their sights on Alaska.  Rabbit Creek was the site of the first major discovery in 1896.  The Klondike Gold Rush started in 1898, and with that, an estimated 100,000 people set out to strike it rich; only about 30,000 to 50,000 actually reached the Klondike Valley (Alaska Gold Traveler’s Guide).