1. Alaska: A case study  Had been controlled by Russia since early 1700’s, never much explored.  Secretary of State William Seward – wants to purchase.  Congress’s answer?  1867, purchased for 7.2 million.  Cost per acre?  “Seward’s Icebox,” “Seward’s Folly”  Included timber, minerals, and CRUDE OIL (suckaaaaaas) Ratified by just one vote $00.02

2. Hawaii: A case study  An archipelago and independent kingdom (monarchy)  U.S. interests since early 1800’s: sugar trade, spreading Christianity, and military advantages in Pacific  1890: America passed a tariff on Sugar (ended up hurting American sugar growers in Hawaii)  The solution? Make it a state so that foreign taxes don’t apply. A tax on foreign goods to make them more expensive than domestic ones

3. Hawaii: A Case Study  1893: Planters overthrow Queen ‘Lil with help of American Marines.  Soldiers raise U.S. flag over Honolulu  President Cleveland is ashamed of the actions, but later President McKinley, wanting military advantage, signed resolution annexing the islands.  Hawaii made a state officially in 1959.