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U.S. Secretary of State William Seward was instrumental in instigating the purchase of Alaska.
Answer: True
Explanation: William Seward's diplomatic efforts were indeed central to the acquisition of Alaska from Russia.
The United States Senate approved the Alaska Purchase for $7,200,000 on April 9, 1867.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Senate's approval of the Alaska Purchase occurred on April 9, 1867, for the sum of $7,200,000.
Alaska Day is celebrated on October 6th to commemorate the formal transfer of the territory to the United States.
Answer: False
Explanation: Alaska Day is celebrated on October 18th, commemorating the formal transfer of the territory on that date in 1867.
The transfer of Alaska to the U.S. involved moving the International Date Line eastward and switching from the Gregorian to the Julian calendar.
Answer: False
Explanation: The International Date Line was moved westward, and Alaska switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, not the other way around.
The flag-raising ceremony in Sitka on October 18, 1867, included 250 American soldiers and 80 Russian soldiers.
Answer: True
Explanation: The ceremony at Baranof Castle Hill indeed involved 250 American soldiers and 80 Russian soldiers, among other participants.
During the flag-lowering ceremony, the Russian flag became entangled on the flagstaff, causing a delay.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Russian flag became entangled on the upraised bayonets of the Russian garrison after being torn loose, not on the flagstaff itself.
The formal transfer of Alaska on October 18, 1867, resulted in residents skipping 11 days on their calendar.
Answer: True
Explanation: Due to the calendar change from Julian to Gregorian and the International Date Line shift, residents effectively skipped 11 days, moving from October 6th to October 18th.
Who instigated the purchase of Alaska by the United States?
Answer: U.S. Secretary of State William Seward
Explanation: U.S. Secretary of State William Seward was the key figure in instigating the Alaska Purchase.
When did the United States Senate approve the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire?
Answer: April 9, 1867
Explanation: The United States Senate approved the Alaska Purchase on April 9, 1867.
How did the transfer of Alaska to the United States affect the calendar for its residents?
Answer: They lost 11 days, skipping from October 6th to October 18th.
Explanation: Due to the calendar change and International Date Line shift, residents effectively lost 11 days, moving from October 6th to October 18th.
Which of the following individuals was the American Commissioner at the flag-raising ceremony in Sitka on October 18, 1867?
Answer: General Lovell Rousseau
Explanation: General Lovell Rousseau served as the American Commissioner at the flag-raising ceremony in Sitka.
What was the purchase price of Alaska from the Russian Empire?
Answer: $7,200,000
Explanation: The United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7,200,000.
The de facto International Date Line was moved in which direction coincident with Alaska's transfer to the U.S.?
Answer: Westward
Explanation: Upon Alaska's transfer to the U.S., the de facto International Date Line was moved westward.
Which of the following was NOT a participant in the flag-raising ceremony in Sitka on October 18, 1867?
Answer: U.S. Secretary of State William Seward
Explanation: While instrumental in the purchase, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward was not listed as a participant in the flag-raising ceremony in Sitka.
What was the name of the governor's residence in Sitka where the flag-raising ceremony took place?
Answer: Baranof Castle Hill
Explanation: The flag-raising ceremony occurred at Baranof Castle Hill, the governor's residence in Sitka.
The Department of Alaska was the governmental designation for Alaska from its acquisition in 1867 until it became the Territory of Alaska in 1884.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was the governmental designation from 1867 to 1884, but it was succeeded by the District of Alaska, not directly by the Territory of Alaska.
The U.S. Army was the sole governing entity for the Department of Alaska throughout its entire existence from 1867 to 1884.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was administered successively by the U.S. Army (until 1877), the U.S. Department of the Treasury (1877-1879), and the U.S. Navy (1879-1884).
The Department of Alaska was classified as an incorporated and unorganized territory of the United States.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was indeed classified as an incorporated and unorganized territory, meaning it was part of the U.S. but lacked a formal self-governing structure.
Juneau served as the capital city of the Department of Alaska during its period of U.S. administration.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sitka, not Juneau, served as the capital city of the Department of Alaska.
Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis was one of the notable commanders of the Department of Alaska.
Answer: True
Explanation: Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis served as a commander of the Department of Alaska from 1868 to 1870.
Russian America immediately succeeded the Department of Alaska as the governing entity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Russian America preceded the Department of Alaska; the Department of Alaska was succeeded by the District of Alaska.
The 1880 United States census recorded Alaska's population as approximately 7,200 people.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1880 United States census recorded Alaska's population as 33,426 people, not 7,200.
Conclusive evidence confirms that Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski was the first American administrator of Alaska.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Anchorage Daily News was unable to find conclusive information to support or disprove the legend of Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski as the first administrator.
The Department of Alaska was established as the second form of U.S. administration, following a brief military occupation.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was the *initial* governmental designation and first form of U.S. administration, not the second.
Alaska's governmental status progressed directly from the Department of Alaska to statehood.
Answer: False
Explanation: Alaska's governmental status progressed from Department to District, then Territory, and finally to Statehood.
The Department of Alaska was considered an unorganized territory, meaning it lacked a formal, self-governing structure.
Answer: True
Explanation: As an unorganized territory, the Department of Alaska indeed lacked a formal, self-governing structure, though it was incorporated into the U.S.
The Department of the Treasury administered Alaska from 1877 to 1879.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following the U.S. Army's jurisdiction, the Department of the Treasury indeed administered Alaska from 1877 to 1879.
For what period did the Department of Alaska serve as the governmental designation for Alaska?
Answer: From 1867 to 1884
Explanation: The Department of Alaska served as the governmental designation from its acquisition in 1867 until it was organized as the District of Alaska in 1884.
Which U.S. government entity administered the Department of Alaska immediately after the U.S. Army's jurisdiction ended in 1877?
Answer: The U.S. Department of the Treasury
Explanation: After the U.S. Army's jurisdiction ended in 1877, the Department of Alaska was administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury until 1879.
What was the classification of the Department of Alaska under U.S. governance?
Answer: An incorporated and unorganized territory
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was classified as an incorporated and unorganized territory, meaning it was part of the U.S. but lacked a formal self-governing structure.
What city served as the capital of the Department of Alaska?
Answer: Sitka
Explanation: Sitka, formerly the capital of Russian America, continued to serve as the capital of the Department of Alaska.
Who was a notable commander of the Department of Alaska from 1868 to 1870?
Answer: Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis
Explanation: Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis is listed as a commander of the Department of Alaska during the specified period.
What governmental entity immediately succeeded the Department of Alaska?
Answer: The District of Alaska
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was succeeded by the District of Alaska, marking a change in its administrative structure.
What was the population of Alaska recorded in the 1880 United States census?
Answer: 33,426 people
Explanation: The 1880 United States census recorded Alaska's population as 33,426 people.
What is the veracity of the legend that Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski was the first American administrator of Alaska?
Answer: The Anchorage Daily News was unable to find conclusive information to support or disprove it.
Explanation: The Anchorage Daily News investigated the legend but found no conclusive evidence to either confirm or deny Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski's role as the first administrator.
What was the primary purpose of the Department of Alaska's establishment?
Answer: To establish the initial U.S. governmental administration after the purchase.
Explanation: The Department of Alaska was established to provide the first form of U.S. governmental administration immediately following the territory's purchase.
What was the ultimate progression of Alaska's governmental status after the Department era?
Answer: Department, then District of Alaska, then Territory of Alaska, then State of Alaska
Explanation: Alaska's governmental status progressed through Department, District, Territory, and finally Statehood.
The Department of Alaska was administered by the U.S. Navy during which period?
Answer: 1879 to 1884
Explanation: The U.S. Navy administered the Department of Alaska from 1879 until 1884.
The Department of Alaska was preceded by what governmental entity?
Answer: Russian America
Explanation: Russian America was the governmental entity that preceded the Department of Alaska.
Which of the following was NOT one of the U.S. government entities that successively held jurisdiction over the Department of Alaska?
Answer: U.S. Department of the Interior
Explanation: The U.S. Army, Department of the Treasury, and U.S. Navy successively administered Alaska, but the Department of the Interior is not mentioned as having jurisdiction during this period.
The Department of Alaska's classification as an 'unorganized territory' meant it lacked what?
Answer: A formal, self-governing structure
Explanation: An 'unorganized territory' designation indicated that the Department of Alaska lacked a formal, self-governing political structure.
When the United States acquired Alaska, much of its interior was already well-charted by European and American explorers.
Answer: False
Explanation: At the time of acquisition, vast regions of Alaska's interior remained largely unexplored by Europeans and Americans.
The Western Union expedition in 1865 aimed to establish a global communication link by laying a telegraph line across Alaska.
Answer: True
Explanation: The primary goal of the Western Union expedition was to lay an overland telegraph line across Alaska to connect with an Asian line, establishing a global communication link.
William Healey Dall initially led the Western Union surveying effort before Robert Kennicott took over.
Answer: False
Explanation: Robert Kennicott initially led the surveying effort, and William Healey Dall took charge of scientific affairs after Kennicott's death.
The Western Union expedition produced the first comprehensive map of the entire Yukon River.
Answer: True
Explanation: Among its scientific contributions, the Western Union expedition indeed produced the first comprehensive map of the entire Yukon River.
The Alaskan overland telegraph project was abandoned because of a lack of funding.
Answer: False
Explanation: The project was abandoned because an Atlantic undersea telegraph cable was successfully laid, rendering the overland route unnecessary.
After the Western Union project, William Healey Dall continued to explore Alaska, recording and naming geological features.
Answer: True
Explanation: William Healey Dall made multiple return trips to Alaska, significantly contributing to its geographical understanding by documenting and naming geological features.
The Alaska Commercial Company hindered exploration by restricting access to trading posts in the interior.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Alaska Commercial Company facilitated exploration by establishing trading posts that aided movement into uncharted regions.
Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka's notable journey involved rafting the Copper River from Lake Lindeman to Saint Michael.
Answer: False
Explanation: Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka rafted the Yukon River, not the Copper River, from Lake Lindeman to Saint Michael.
Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's 1885 exploration covered approximately 1,500 miles of the Alaskan interior.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's extensive 1885 expedition indeed covered approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of the Alaskan interior.
The Western Union expedition's scientific studies provided the first comprehensive geological survey of Alaska's mineral resources.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Western Union expedition produced the first comprehensive map of the Yukon River and conducted scientific studies, but it is not stated that it provided the first comprehensive geological survey of mineral resources.
Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's 1885 expedition primarily focused on mapping the coastal regions of Alaska.
Answer: False
Explanation: Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's 1885 expedition was an extensive exploration of *Interior* Alaska, not primarily coastal regions.
What was the state of exploration in Alaska when the United States first acquired it?
Answer: Vast regions remained largely unexplored by Europeans and Americans.
Explanation: At the time of acquisition, much of Alaska's interior was largely unexplored by Europeans and Americans.
What was the primary objective of the Western Union expedition in Alaska in 1865?
Answer: To lay an overland telegraph line to connect with an Asian line.
Explanation: The Western Union expedition aimed to establish a global communication link by constructing an overland telegraph line across Alaska to connect with an Asian line.
Who took charge of the Western Union expedition's scientific affairs after Robert Kennicott's death?
Answer: William Healey Dall
Explanation: William Healey Dall assumed leadership of the scientific affairs for the Western Union expedition after Robert Kennicott's passing.
What significant scientific contribution did the Western Union expedition make in Alaska?
Answer: Produced the first comprehensive map of the entire Yukon River.
Explanation: A key scientific achievement of the Western Union expedition was the creation of the first comprehensive map of the entire Yukon River.
Why was the Alaskan overland telegraph project abandoned in 1866?
Answer: An Atlantic undersea telegraph cable was successfully laid that same year.
Explanation: The successful laying of an Atlantic undersea telegraph cable in 1866 rendered the Alaskan overland telegraph project obsolete and led to its abandonment.
After the Western Union project, what was William Healey Dall's continued contribution to Alaskan exploration?
Answer: He returned multiple times to record and name various geological features.
Explanation: William Healey Dall continued his work in Alaska by making multiple return trips to document and name various geological features.
How did the Alaska Commercial Company contribute to the exploration of Alaska in the late 1800s?
Answer: By establishing trading posts that facilitated movement into uncharted regions.
Explanation: The Alaska Commercial Company's trading posts along interior rivers facilitated the movement of trappers and traders into unexplored areas, thereby contributing to exploration.
Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka's notable exploration journey involved rafting which river?
Answer: The Yukon River
Explanation: Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka's significant journey involved rafting the Yukon River from Lake Lindeman to Saint Michael.
Approximately how many miles of the Alaskan interior did Lieutenant Henry T. Allen explore in 1885?
Answer: 1,500 miles (2,400 km)
Explanation: Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's extensive 1885 expedition covered an impressive 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of the Alaskan interior.
Which explorer rafted the Yukon River from Lake Lindeman in Canada all the way to Saint Michael?
Answer: Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka
Explanation: Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka is noted for his extensive journey rafting the Yukon River from Lake Lindeman to Saint Michael.
Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's 1885 expedition started from which geographical feature?
Answer: The Gulf of Alaska
Explanation: Lieutenant Henry T. Allen's 1885 expedition commenced from the Gulf of Alaska.
Public opinion in the United States was overwhelmingly negative regarding the Alaska Purchase, with no positive views expressed.
Answer: False
Explanation: Public opinion was generally positive, although some critics did deride it as 'Seward's Folly'.
Seward's Day, commemorating the Alaska Purchase, is celebrated on the last Monday of March each year.
Answer: True
Explanation: Seward's Day is indeed observed annually on the last Monday of March to honor the purchase of Alaska.
The purchase of Alaska was initially met with universal acclaim and no criticism in the United States.
Answer: False
Explanation: While generally positive, the purchase was met with some criticism, notably being derided as 'Seward's Folly'.
What date is annually celebrated as Alaska Day, commemorating the formal transfer of the territory?
Answer: October 18, 1867
Explanation: Alaska Day is celebrated annually on October 18th, marking the formal transfer of the territory in 1867.
How was the Alaska Purchase generally perceived by public opinion in the United States?
Answer: It was generally positive, though some critics derided it as 'Seward's Folly'.
Explanation: Public opinion was largely positive, but the purchase also faced criticism, with some calling it 'Seward's Folly'.
What is the name of the annual holiday commemorating the purchase of Alaska, and when is it celebrated?
Answer: Seward's Day, the last Monday of March
Explanation: Seward's Day, celebrated on the last Monday of March, commemorates the purchase of Alaska.
What was the ultimate justification for the Alaska Purchase, despite initial criticisms like 'Seward's Folly'?
Answer: The rich natural resources discovered later.
Explanation: The subsequent discovery of Alaska's rich natural resources ultimately justified the purchase, despite initial public skepticism.
The flag representing the Department of Alaska in the infobox was the Flag of the United States from 1877–1890.
Answer: True
Explanation: The infobox indeed displayed the U.S. Flag from 1877–1890 to represent the Department of Alaska.
The infobox for the Department of Alaska included a map titled 'Map of Russian America.'
Answer: False
Explanation: The infobox included a map titled 'Map of the Department of Alaska,' not 'Map of Russian America.'
Which flag was displayed in the infobox representing the Department of Alaska?
Answer: The Flag of the United States from 1877–1890
Explanation: The infobox featured the Flag of the United States from 1877–1890 as the representation for the Department of Alaska.
What visual aid was included in the infobox to illustrate the Department of Alaska?
Answer: A map titled 'Map of the Department of Alaska'
Explanation: The infobox included a map specifically titled 'Map of the Department of Alaska' to visually represent the territory.