2. Alaska Purchase from Russia by the U.S.

See all facts 2. Alaska Purchase from Russia by the U.S.

Did you know that the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for a seemingly insignificant $7.2 million?

In 1867, United States Secretary of State William H. Seward brokered the deal with Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who was eager to divest of this remote and sparsely populated territory. Ironically termed as Seward's folly, the purchase added 586,412 square miles to U.S. territory, transforming the decision into a strategic triumph instead of a diplomatic blunder. At merely two cents per acre, this acquisition brought forth an abundance of natural resources like gold, oil, and fisheries, permanently altering the course of America's economic prosperity. So the next time you ponder on fascinating historical anecdotes, remember: One man's folly is another man's fortune.

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