Russia took possession of Alaska when explorer Vitus Bering landed there in the 1740s. The United States began its expansion westward in the mid-1800s. Along with the settlement of the West, some American politicians began to take an interest in the Russian territory of Alaska and all of its geological and political resources. Several political meetings around the world followed, accompanied by a boom in Russian-American communication. In 1867, the Alaska Territory was purchased from Russia by the United States. (The purchase of Alaska and Russian-American relations 12)The geographical location of Alaska (located between the United States and Soviet Russia) made it a valuable bridge between North America and Asia . The rivalry between the two countries over territory began when American whalers and fur traders began traveling west and came into contact with Russian whalers and fur traders in the same region. The two countries ignored the quarrels for a few years, but eventually the complaints reached the ears of the authorities and a treaty was concluded, followed by the establishment of several military outposts. (The Alaska Purchase and Russian-American Relations 23-25) Besides its geographic value, Alaska was rich in natural resources and was mostly unexplored. Following the gold rush in California and Arizona, gold prospectors began heading west and quickly discovered that the Alaska Territory contained a massive amount of gold. Alaska Natives also maintained a large market in the fish and shellfish industry, generating significant profits for the country. It has maintained its status as the crab capital of the world, catching and selling more shellfish than any other place on earth. To put a header on the overflow of food and...... middle of paper ...... one day war broke out while the final price was being determined. At the end of the discussions, the 586,000 square miles of territory were finally sold for 7,200,000 US dollars. (The Alaska Purchase and Russian-American Relations 3) Complaints about the Alaska Purchase began to subside after the discovery of large quantities of gold and oil in 1860 and the beginning of the journey of many immigrants to Alaska. Alaska's population increased by 300% after these discoveries, and William Howard Seward recouped his loss when he purchased the territory over the next two years. Today, Alaska has a thriving population and generates significant revenue each year. It was a significant financial investment for America and proved to be a great state. The Territory of Alaska became an official state of the United States of America in 1867. (The Alaskans 16)