Alaska Forever!

In 1867, the United States purchased the American territories of the Russian Empire. The new land was named the Department of Alaska and placed under the jurisdiction of the US Army. However, the aquisition was very controversial in Washington and many politicans thought it was foolhardy. Consequently, the US Congress determined to spend as little money on the new Department of Alaska (Alaska Forever!) as it possibly could. Americans wanting to settle there had to make their own way.