Alaskan purchase

In 1867, the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000. People thought William Seward was insane for spending that much money on a frozen rock like Alaska. Americans thought Alaska was uninhabitable and useless. But they were wrong. The purchase of Alaska actually benefited America, for Alaska is rich in oil preserves, and there are cities with lots of connections to the outside world. Way to go Alaska!