What were the arguments in opposition to the purchase of Alaska?
What were the arguments in opposition to the purchase of Alaska? Some regarded the purchase of Alaska as a waste of taxpayers' money. Opponents christened the deal "Seward's folly" after the Secretary of State William H. Seward. To them, Alaska was nothing more than a gigantic icy wasteland, with little in the way of strategic or economic value. Why did Americans not want to buy Alaska? Reactions to the purchase in the United States were mostly positive, as many believed possession of Alaska would serve as a base to expand American trade in Asia. Some opponents labeled the purchase as...