Mistake: Russia sold Alaskan gold to the U.S.
Alaska had been considered a burden, rather than an asset, by Russia for a long
time.So, when William Seward, U.S.
Secretary of State, began negotiations on his own initiative, he expected to encounter
some opposition.However, the purchase of a seemingly desolate and
mostly frozen land was greeted with criticism by the press and the public.It was remote, indefensible, and of little benefit.