Alaska: Why America's Largest State Is Also Its Most Important

[@LittleRedTeaCake]

Born and raised in Alaska, another one of the problems is honestly the terrain and the lack of infrastructure. It makes it very difficult to connect towns and cities because there is only one road to and from one another. There are some places you can only reach by plane. Some places by a one way tunnel in a mountain, meaning it closed from one side for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the traffic and then switches for the other side, or boat. One of the biggest issues that a lot of people don't think about is garbage removal, specifically of big things, like cars, boats, appliances, things like that cost so much money to haul and dispose of, that the further you get from Anchorage, the more it becomes an apparent issue, if that makes sense.

[@TheInsaneupsdriver]

legally that makes you Russian as they never took payment for Alaska making it still Russia.

[@bearpawz_]

@@TheInsaneupsdriver bull-hockey'

[@proto2580]

Born in Anchorage, raised in Kodiak (at least for a few years). Last time I was in AK, was 2011, but Kodiak still had rotting cars & trucks littered everywhere as it costs to much to ship junk off-island. Cars tend to rust through very fast in Kodiak. I'm not sure why Kodiak does not have a real wrecking yard. Another related fact: many years ago, (I think in the 80's), Kodiak Sanitation switched to aluminum dumpsters (for the commercial route). They did not rust through like original steel dumpsters. One of the few places in the USA you could get away with Alum for a dumpster. Most places, people would steal an Alum dumpster for scrap value, but because it cost to much to ship scrap off-island, KoSan could use Alum.

[@bearpawz_]

@@proto2580 You must've lived down on Mission Rd by the docks? It's completely different there now, although I don't live there anymore either. It's still the Emerald Isle as far as Kodiak residents feel.. 🤗🐳

[@proto2580]

@@bearpawz_ We lived on Mill Bay Rd when I was a kid. I played a lot at Baranof park. I also had extended family that lived on Rezonof. Actually, I got around Kodiak quite a bit as a kid on my bicycle. This was back in the days when, as kids, we were gone all day. Of course, that was when it wasn't raining, and you know that in Kodiak, that's a rare occurrence, LOL!

[@classic.cameras]

Imagine the Soviet military build up Alaska would have had in the Cold War. British Columbia and the Yukon would have been the front lines in a Soviet War. Yikes.

[@TheTroyc1982]

Alaska would have been Canadian if the US didn't buy it

[@oppionatedindividual8256]

@@TheTroyc1982 nope. They didn’t want to sell to us ( British Empire ). Specifically why they sold to the US. Other nations that could have bought it include the micro nation Lichtenstein. I use ‘us’ loosely as I understand you believe Canadian identity existed then, which it did not, and I’m British.

[@ryanprosper88]

Either the US or Canada under the British Empire would have seized it during the Russian revolution, or it would have become independent. There is no way the Reds were going to take it from the Whites during the Civil War. Heck, the Reds barely came out on top as it is.

[@ryanprosper88]

@@oppionatedindividual8256 see my previous comment for my take on it

[@robertsandberg2246]

Yes! Sometimes, I think it was kinda the providence of God how it was bought in 1867. "Seward's Folly" probably saved us from a full on invasion during the Soviet Days!

[@maxwalker1159]

It's important to note Russia sold Alaska to the US after their loss in the Crimean war against Britain, they thought that in a second war with Britain they wouldn't be able to defend the coloney and would thus have it annexed into British Canada

[@maddrone7814]

That and the US and Russian Empire had good relations

[@micahw83]

@MaDDrone Right. Better to give it to America than lose it to their rival, Britain.

[@bixbysnyder-00]

Yep, it's a misconception Russia was not aware of Alaska's rich resources. But defending Alaska was simply too difficult for Russia. Same reason the French sold the US the Louisiana purchase, no good way to defend it from the British.

[@em_el_007]

What's interesting. The Russians sent ships to New York to support the cause of the North in the U.S Civil War. Meanwhile, Britain and Catholic church invested in the South. 🤔. I never put the Crimean War together with these events. Thanks!

[@micahw83]

@Em Elou I believe Britain supported the South because an independent South would likely want to sell their agricultural goods to Britain which could use them as industrial inputs as opposed to selling them to a North they are hostile towards. This would help them and hurt the North, who was their industrial competitor. I didn't know Russia supported the North but I suppose it was something of a proxy conflict with Britain for them?

[@MrWaldorfian]

Russia really sold Alaska to the USA because they were broke after the Crimean War (oddly enough) and didn't want their chief rival, the UK, to gain control of the area. Canada also wasn't even a real country yet. They were administered by the UK so even though it would make sense today for it to be a part of Canada, that's not how it went down.

[@oppionatedindividual8256]

British empire =/= UK

[@MikeyLikesIt89]

Thank you for clearing this up because I was about to type this up. Russia sold Alaska to fund their war effort, not because they were tired of the distance. Think about it, to this day the far away areas from Moscow exist as quasi independent nations.

[@MrWaldorfian]

@@MikeyLikesIt89 yes exactly. The only way they would’ve thought Alaska was too far away was when you consider how they would defend it long term. They got it for free and sold it for a big profit. Lol

[@ajb7530]

Canada is a country back in 1867.

[@MrWaldorfian]

@@ajb7530 gee thanks, but Russia wasn’t going to sell it to a British ally. They just finished fighting Britain in the Crimea.

[@ryanprosper88]

I've noticed during the winter that temperatures in Anchorage can at times be warmer than Dallas, the coast line certainly helps Anchorages climate. But I never thought of Alaska as having a lot of agricultural potential. Interesting point

[@akapoka8732]

Wait seriously? As a dallas resident I’m in disbelief.

[@jameshickok2349]

Anchorage commonly can be 40F warmer than eastern South Dakota/Minnesota. Many times we were at -20F and Anchorage was in the 20s. They have the advantage of the ocean currents to moderate their coastal temps. But you get a couple hundred miles inland then you find the super cold. The ocean currents make a big difference in northern Europe also. When the ocean cools then bad things happen. Its why the Greenland Vikings went extinct after 400 years of successful living during the Medieval Warm Period.

[@ryanprosper88]

@@akapoka8732 it's true. It's not often, but I've looked on Google at times to compare temperatures in each city

[@Chris_at_Home]

It cools off fast when you go inland from the coast. We had a few mornings where it was -10 in the last week. With our greenhouse and outdoor garden we grow most of our produce. The sun is up close to 20 hours a day on summer solstice here. We also put up fish and game meat.

[@anhvu-yp9vs]

As a Dallas suburb resident, I occasionally joke around with the cold weather comparing it to Anchorage

[@ChrisNoonetheFirst]

Russia once looked at Alaska and said, “I’d rather have Siberia.”

[@dankelly5150]

Betcha the old Soviet Union was kicking themselves when they realized that they could have had military bases much much closer to the continental U.S. if they still had Alaska! Let alone the amount of gold that's available up there and the incredible fishing resources that Alaska has!

[@brettrobinson2901]

I've tried a Baked Alaska...I wonder what a Baked Siberia tastes like?🤔

[@jameshickok2349]

@@brettrobinson2901 Probably like stale Mammoth past the exp date.

[@brettrobinson2901]

@@jameshickok2349 YOUVE HAD MAMMOTH!.... even stale mammoth... You lucky basterd...although ...what a tummy ache I can imagine...😯

[@kkwun4969]

@@brettrobinson2901probably tastes like coal

[@adesojielijah3171]

Ivan: Go east Cossacks: how far east Ivan: until you find west

[@adamm.6595]

Funny.

[@herzogsbuick]

"Fairbanks can't grow much today" Fairbanks doesn't* grow much today. The University of Alaska system started as an agricultural school in Fairbanks in 1917, and still maintains farms and research there. There are multiple farmers markets and co-ops, too. There's far more farmed land in the Mat-Su valley, which mostly started in the 1930s with the Matanuska Valley Colony. Anyway, yes obviously the winters make farming hard or non-competitive for several reasons, and the summers too aren't great for everything. But we grow tomatoes outdoors down here in Anchorage. Have a friend who says he's grown chili peppers outdoors too, which, given that they're my favorite, I had already written off as impossible but now am stoked to try :-)

[@classic.cameras]

As a Canadian. Two things. Firstly, always hated that Alaska has a huge part of Canada's west cost and second, I would love to live in Alaska.

[@oppionatedindividual8256]

It should be a Canadian province.

[@ColdPotato]

What can I say, we make good real estate deals. Come on Denmark, you know you want to do it....

[@ryanprosper88]

@@oppionatedindividual8256 considering how close BC came to becoming an American state, it's highly unlikely Alaska would have ever been Canadian

[@chuckvanetten8295]

Alaska has by far the most spectacular landscape in all of North America. Thankfully it’s an American State. 👍

[@shanebraaten9553]

Become an American Citizen then...!!

[@tylernorby4939]

Alaska pays out based on the size of the investment fund that a fraction of oil revenue goes into, not the future sales of oil. The Alaska Permanent Fund(APF) is $64B of assets and pays roughly $1,600 per resident annually. Alaskians will not have to worry about losing this payout since the state was wise enough to invest the money instead of paying out larger amounts for the last 46 years.

[@Dutch_Uncle]

Well phrased. The idea that "Alaskans are paid to live in Alaska" is entrenched but false. The money comes from the return on investments from a sovereign wealth fund of +/- $70 billion dollars, not for the oil revenue of last year.

[@OkkenBomm]

I didn’t know that. Somewhat similar to the Norwegian Oil Fund (official name Government Pension Fund Global). Yield is used for infrastructure and for funding public service.

[@maltava4534]

I am surprised that you didn't mention that Russia offered to sell it to Lichtenstein first and only sold it to America when they turned down the offer.

[@anthonyrivas5060]

First I've heard of this

[@thegamingteen44mc5]

Random fact about alaska: it has more wolves than any other US state combined

[@blueybarnes9442]

And more Bears 🐻 and it’s 1/5 the size of the contiguous USA 🇺🇸

[@watchmanonthewall14]

But CA has more wolves in sheep's clothing and more cougars in its bars.

[@klobe9]

@Jon Limes Alaska is about 1/3rd the size of the lower 48 and only has 730,000 residents

[@Harold710]

I never saw a wild wolf in AK

[@jimgreen5788]

@@blueybarnes9442, actually it's closer to 1/6: 570,886 as compared to 3,532,316.

[@okamijubei]

Though also Alaska is taken too much for granted. That state plays plenty of big roles at times. Like during World War II, it is a very useful outpost against the Japanese and act as a half-point with USSR for their supplies and weaponry against the Nazis. While during the Cold War, it also act as a defense line and checkpoint for spies against the Soviets during the Cold War.

[@rb98769]

And it's becoming important again because of the worsening relations with China.

[@okamijubei]

@@rb98769 and with Russia... Again

[@Nika-cp9np]

You can still find old converted airfields and nike sites all over the place here from both the lend-lease days of WWII and the cold war, along with radar and comms stations absolutely everywhere. It's hard to forget the strategic role when you're up here watching F-22s go off on intercepts every few days, ha ha.

[@kiha6702]

Alaska, the most incredible and beautiful state in the union. 😍 And the people were so friendly 🥰

[@brettrobinson2901]

Alaskans are actually very hostile..but are frozen solid nine months of the year...giving them an apparent slow moving and inoffensive appearance... DONT BE FOOLED!!!😵💩

[@Kasper666lowlife]

No we hate outsiders now go away and never visit

[@clarencesmith467]

You ever seen Michigan and the UP?

[@danielsill4120]

Thank you from Glacier city,Alaska.

[@bearpawz_]

@@clarencesmith467 Hi Clarence.. I live in Anchorage.. or at least I've been here for eons. Way up the in te Chugach overlooking city lights, the inlets, mountains, volcanoes, moose all over the yard every other day 🤐 My dad is from TC & NM, mom from the deep south. I have NEVER been anywhere in the midwest, but OMG.. I think I have more friends, coworkers, members of the genealogy group, sewing club (I could go on) that are from your lovely state. Actually... Michigan is one of the answers in the Alaska Trivia Book I won on some radio show a few years back and it could be the Questions is something like: Which state do new Alaskans tend to move here from? I'm almost certain it says MI. I've been looking for that game ALL OVER THE PLACE!! And I can't find it online (so far).. One thing I know about Michigan is that they have a lot of good hockey!! (Us... NO!) 🏒🏒🏒 Sorry to cut in your conersation with someone else ... take care!!! 🥰

[@melangreathouse2209]

You know Geoff, not many Americans today,(our youth included), would be able to tell us of the vital significance of the state of Alaska. I myself, was in that same constituency ( until today). this video was very informative and thought provoking. I've now watched several of your videos, and I am amazed at how thorough you are. KUDOS to you, for another job well done!!!

[@revinhatol]

If only the US could use and develop the Isanotski Strait in False Pass, Alaska...

[@elizabethdavis1696]

Please do a video on how Greenland and Iceland almost became parts of the USA

[@bruceli9094]

Could still happen if Russia continues the war.

[@zeuso.1947]

As an Alaskan I whole heartedly agree. Home sweet Kodiak.

[@bearpawz_]

Awesome! I lived in Kodiak for a few years.. House was not far from the bridge. 🥰🐟

[@mikeskupniewitz8057]

You really should have studied Alaska more before making this… lived here almost 40 years… plenty of opportunity here in Alaska if the feds will just let us develop our bountiful resources, it’s ridiculous how much they interfere

[@Tinil0]

Yeah, how dare they protect the pristine environment! We should be able to absolutely fuck Alaska's shit up with no consequences!

[@xxxBradTxxx]

I read there’s trillions (with a T) of dollars worth of copper beneath Alaska. But we’re not allowed to access it despite the greenies wanting us to use electric cars.

[@Kasper666lowlife]

Yeah really this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about

[@MatAK49]

Mike, as a fellow Alaskan down here on the K-Penn, I whole heartedly agree. Alaska, having an abundance of natural resources, we are willing to take advantage of them sensibly, but the Feds own much of the state's land that we are kept from utilizing them. Our oil industry is being hobbled severely by the Feds as well.

[@prophetseven728]

Do you really see any climate change there? Besides Climate always changing that part is in the name. But I mean to an Alarming rate as they are trying to scare us to believe.

[@FastGardenGnome38]

Warmer climate will not have the effect on Alaskan agriculture that you think, as the ammount of light will still be hugely limiting in spring and fall. The current seasonal changes of temperature coincide with decreased light, meaning less agriculture in northern climates cannot be solely attributed to climate. Light availability is the main factor used to predict yield, not temperature.

[@emmettkennedy8388]

did you know that anchorage, at times gets like 3 hours of semi dark? that's 21 hr of light for plants

[@FastGardenGnome38]

@@emmettkennedy8388 Yes but my point is that it will be hugely limiting in the fall when day lengths shorten, I am Norwegian and a plant scientist so i know of long day lengths. This means that the season is in effect still short, even if temperatures rise, you do not want grain filling to occur with 8 hours of light a day.

[@driftwoods2229]

I moved to Alaska 12 years ago and finally made the decision to buy property and a house. I don’t see myself wanting to live anywhere else and once the lower 48 burns down due to politics and crime, people will want to move up here and my house will double in value. Thanks for doing this video!

[@shaneanderson1229]

North Dakota here, I know Gow to handle the cold winters and hot summers that you guys also have up there. Would seriously love to move to Alaska

[@bearpawz_]

@@shaneanderson1229 Your college hockey team in Grand Forks used to beat the daylights out of our Anchorage team when we were in the same league.. 🤭 🏒

[@robdow6348]

I have in Alaska, it’s not getting much warmer since I have lived here since 1981. It’s April 14, 2023, we still have over two feet in snow and it was in low teens this weekend. So your global warming theory would be good for Alaska, it’s severely overhyped. The lack of growth is mainly because of 8 months of winter. Geoff is delusional about climate in Alaska, I live here and know.

[@savannah115]

Have you looked at what is happening to the permafrost? I'm not sure where you're getting your data that it's not getting warmer here...Barrow/Utqiagvik is basically sliding off the face of the Earth because of the permafrost melting. That's new.

[@dannyg5446]

Nah I feel like our most state is California, as much as people love to hate it California creates a good chunk of our food, a good chunk of our economy and is the trading post between Asia and North America

[@raheemjenkins6110]

California produces half of the food in the USA. But this video wasn’t saying Alaska would replace California when it comes to food production.

[@deecawford]

Crazy because the past 2 summers have been extremely wet. The 7 yrs of winters we have set records with cold temps and snow fall. I’d like to know where this information comes from. We also have rainforest in Alaska that people tend to not realize. We have an awesome growing system however due to mild summers the past few have been hard on farmers

[@504ever4]

Prudhoe Bay. That one oilfield is so beneficial to the US that Alaska paid for itself tenfold.

[@andrewp.4852]

Living here in Alaska is weird in a lot of ways, the biggest gripe that I share with many folks is how ineffective our oil taxes are. We produce 20% of the nation's oil and yet Alaskans see a fraction of the profits gained. BILLIONs of dollars worth of resources a year are extracted yet we don't tax enough of it to properly support the lives of less than 1 million people? Being dependent on oil means bending over for oil in a lot of ways. Politicians here are almost unanimously buddy-buddy with oil 🤷‍♂️. Another idea that isn't brought up much either is that Russia sold the entirety of Alaska while only occupying and exploring a fraction of it. Russia the US and all the other colonial powers agreed that Russia had the right to sell Alaska without any consent of the indigenous people who far and above outnumbered and over occupied colonists at the time. Almost like they were simply passing on their claim to colonize and assimilate to someone else for a price :)

[@Dutch_Uncle]

On oil: It is hard to keep a refinery going in Alaska. This results in crude oil being sent south, and refined products returning to Alaska. On milk: Yes, cows can produce milk in Alaska, but if you want fat free, lactose free, and calcium enriched milk it has to come in by refrigerated truck or barged container from Seatle. On vegetables: Likewise, Alaska produces potatoes, but if you want them in 25 pound bags, already peeled and sliced for your restaurant French fry machine, they have to be imported.

[@c.conga11]

Alaska's population is also declining because it's just cold and depressing.

[@poisonbcm5275]

it's not just alaska

[@jackmichaelbmx]

That's why i left alaska. Depression and anxiety were driving me crazy.

[@emmettkennedy8388]

because most ppl under estimate the state. I went swimming in SNOW MELT WATER. that water was at most 50 degrees.

[@CasuallyIncredible]

Alaska has a lot of natural disasters. They have Earthquakes commonly, Tsunamis heck the had the biggest one so far, & mainly they have volcanoes, a lot of them. You thought Washington, or Hawaii had the volcanoes. Boi you are wrong. Alaska has 88 volcanoes that are active. Most of them are in Aleution Island Chain. Alaska has the most active volcano in the whole USA 🇺🇸, Mount Augustine.

[@mesquitoful]

Had to spend most of a day in Anchorage after my rental lapsed and my flight didn’t leave until early evening. Camped out at the west end of the runway and watched lots of cargo 747s come and go.

[@JonathanSladkoTV]

As an Alaskan, the major reason that the oil profits are going down is because of Washington DC. There are huge untapped reserves of oil, natural gas, as well as things, like gold, copper, etc. in Alaska. The problem is, people in Washington, who know nothing about the state, or the ways that we develop our natural resources, have decided that we’re not allowed to, for example, ANWR, has huge reserves of oil and natural gas, and we are simply not allowed to drill there, because it might disturb the Caribou or something. This is especially funny to me, because having lived in the areas around the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the Caribou love the thing. It’s a common occurrence to see Caribou herd standing around the pipeline during the winter, because the oil inside it is warm, and it warms the areas the Caribou graze in. The funniest thing about all of this to me, is that the United States really needs Alaska a lot more than Alaska needs the United States, which is probably why there is a thriving independence movement in Alaska.

[@KingofCogs1]

Now if only y'all would stop voting for that Murkowski person...lol. Thank you for mentioning ANWR. Kind of disappointed I had to scroll this far to find it in the comments.

[@emmettkennedy8388]

yea!!!!! we could kick ahh if any outside power tried to take us. the bears are on our side

[@f2pscaper4lyfe93]

Did the financial burden of the Crimean War have any affect as to why Russia decided to sell Alaska? I know there's about an 11 or 12 year gap in between, but I understand that that war had severe financial repercussions for Russia.

[@roygbiv5164]

While Alaska may warm up, you cant change the soil types. For the most part, those soils are very poor for production.

[@stevefink6000]

Very true!! winter darkness doesnt grow much either.

[@davidhookway514]

I Think the Louisiana Purchase was another great deal. Speaking as an Englishman.

[@ShallBePurified]

This reminded me of that one Cory in the House episode where Cory accidentally gave the prime minister of Russia the deed to Alaska.

[@matthewwelsh294]

Miss that show good times

[@notlisteningwhocares8877]

I love geography 💙

[@shanebraaten9553]

🤘🏻

[@whatthefunction9140]

We should have snached up most of Canada too. Who dropped the ball on that?

[@theschiznit8777]

As a Canadian I would have to say maybe it's not too late, our current government is determined to destroy this country.

[@kevinbryer2425]

We tried twice. The third time is the charm.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

Had the Oregon Territory dispute, nowadays BC & Yukon, led to another war with the British, I'm pretty sure everything west of Ontario (or at least Manitoba) would have been US territory. But I believe, the ongoing conflicts with Mexico throughout the 1800s led to US Congress downsizing their "manifest destiny 2.0" British Columbia came ridiculously close to becoming part of the US after the purchase of Alaska. Alberta would have been a blessing for the OIL boom of the early 20th century as well But, aless ☕🗿

[@northerncousin7862]

Really glad you didn't. Much prefer living in a country with Canada's values.

[@legokingtm9462]

They tried but white house turned in to black and burnt house 2 times.. soo maybe that's why.

[@ebob0531]

A counter point to this, alaska has extremely short days even during summer. It is unlikely its growing season will extend long enough to outcompete with California's central valley nor the Midwest. Although Alaska may become a much larger crop producer than it is today, the current midwest breadbasket is expected to have its growing season lengthen due to climate change. If the midwest can figure out the imminent water issues upcoming, it is likely they will still stay on the top.

[@starcha1993]

During the summer Alaska have very long days. Sun doesn't sunset at all.

[@bearpawz_]

@@starcha1993 In Anchorage, it gets pretty dusky.. but that doesn't happen until maybe 1 or 2:am or so. Fairbanks (in interior Alaska) and further north, you're right.. sunny all night. ☀😎🥰

[@starcha1993]

@bearpawz It was very unusual form me, because I'm from Europe. One time in Anchorage I was out, taking a hike and I didn't realise that is 11pm. Because it's like 7pm in Europe. But I'm sorry for workers how is going to work on that land. Because there is no sunset. They will work a whole day 😱

[@bearpawz_]

@@starcha1993 LOL!! 😆

[@Cars-N-Jets]

Alaska isn't going to be producing corn & distributing it like Iowa. Gotta admit that!

[@raheemjenkins6110]

Maybe 50 years from now. I live in Alaska. The climate is definitely changing.

[@bearpawz_]

Cars N Airplanes.. Someone was selling fresh corn from Iowa this summer at one of the huge farmer's markets. This one was on BP Oil Company (or whoever owns them now land) Nummmyy... He.. I'll send U some fresh halibut or cod if you send me some ears of IA Corn 😆 (joking.. that might be kinda a pain to do) 🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽

[@erynn9968]

corn is not the only thing you can produce. Some cultures like rye are pretty cold-resistant. No one's talking that Alaska will be suitable for growing bananas.

[@JorgeRodriguez-qb8st]

The Spanish were the first Europeans to have explored, mapped, established ports, and settled with a series of voyages to the Pacific Northwest (Nootka territory) beginning in 1774 - 1792. The Pacific Northwest was composed of the present American states of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The extent of the Spanish empire in North America extended as far north as present-day Alaska NOT northern California as you stated in your video. This is why there are many Spanish place names that exist today in Alaska such as Valdez, Cordova, Gravina Island and one of Alaska’s greatest glaciers is named Malaspina. The city of Valdez, Alaska was once a Spanish port and settlement in the late 18th century and today’s Port Etches, Alaska was originally the Spanish port of Santiago.

[@emmettkennedy8388]

hellos from Cordova,

[@mellissadalby1402]

At the time, the purchase was mocked as "Seward's Folly". Who is laughing now? Eh?

[@JPJ432]

For some context up to the purchase of alaska it partly started with Russia who saved The Union during the American Civil War as they sent their Navy to San Francisco and New York when England and France were just about to enter the war on the side of the Confederates since London created the Confederates. France was already in Mexico making a spear head movement to resupply the Confederates and to open up a Pacific Theatre and create a port in California. England already had 11,000 troops stationed at their Northern Confederacies border now called Canada ready to open a Northern Theatre then to attack The Unions naval blockade. The Union would have been completely destroyed and annexed by those two great powers leaving the Confederates to exist as a puppet state of London. Tsar Alexander wrote a letter to Queen Victoria saying “If you enter this war it will be a casus belli for all out war with the Russian Empire”. The stage was set for the 1st World War and Russia stopped it.

[@JPJ432]

Also the assassination of Lincoln was orchestrated in Montreal and approved of by the Confederate President Jefferson Davis as Montreal was a giant hub for spys and their agencies for the British Empire and the Confederates, as many Confederates were stationed in the “Northern Confederacy”. London also had attempted many assassinations on Lincolns Cabinet members. Many of them successful. William Seward the secretary of state and the man who made the purchase of Alaska possible had 3-4 assassination attempts on him and 1 that nearly killed him. This is also why Russia sold Alaska so cheaply to the Union so England does not grab it. It is why we took Hawaii as we did because the English were close to annexing it. It is why we tried buying Greenland so many times and Iceland as it created a strong border cornering England but each time England made sure Denmark did not sell Greenland to us even back when we recently tried buying it for 1.1 Trillion.

[@adoxartist1258]

I had no idea! Thanks for this info. I'm embarrassed I didn't know any of it. Definitely time to update my education!

[@bearpawz_]

@@adoxartist1258 Look up "Seward's Folley" (named after then secretary of state William Seward, and you'll find more info on how Alaska was purchased than you'll ever want to know! 😊👍

[@quakeknight9680]

And Americans returned the favour by landing on Arkhangelsk doing borderline nothing to prevent Communism in Russia. Shame

[@JPJ432]

@@adoxartist1258 of course, I’m happy to share it as it is such a vital part of our history that is intentionally missing from our education. A couple good books on where to start on the this subject which extends well past just the Civil War is “The Anglo-American Establishment” and “The Unfinished Symphony - The Tale of the Two Americas.”

[@TerryCheever]

At the time $7.2 million was a lot of money, and in today's dollars would be about $150 million, so although a bargain was certainly not cheap. Also, at the time the concern in Russia was not being able to defend the territory from the British who they were at war with and not wanting the land to fall to the British and Canada. And, at that time the USA was a far less threatening and warlike nation after our self-destructive civil war so they didn't know the sale would sort of bite them in the rear later. And at the time fossil fuels were an unknown commodity for the most part.

[@bucknuts247sports3]

Dirt cheap. If Alaska was on the "market" today (funny thought) it would fetch north of $1 trillion. No hyperbole. And as you said, the US got it for what would be merely $150M in today's money.

[@rashakor]

Value in gold would be roughly 750M$ as of 2023. And yes that is still a bargain.

[@trackmaster152002]

I mean, $150M might sound like a lot to an average person, but its nothing when you're talking about the kind of money that national governments deal with. You should be comparing it to the size of the nation's GDP, not comparing that money to what your own salary is. Consumers think in terms of thousands, big businesses think in terms of millions, major corporations or industries as a whole think in terms of billions, and countries think in terms of trillions. Yes, Alaska would fetch a few trillion if it was on the open market these days.

[@clarencesmith467]

Guy from Michigan: hold my beer🤣👌

[@herzogsbuick]

I've been subscribed for a while now, and have listened to a couple podcasts, so please take this respectfully: the audio being out of sync with the video is very very distracting. I've noticed it on other videos of yours too but it was more subtle, and I could ignore it. Now, you're doing a video on my favorite state and home, and I can't watch it. This is coming from a place of me wanting to see you do well, so please don't take it in a mean way. Thanks Geoff!

[@daniellec3450]

I hope that Alaska won’t be an agricultural state. A lot of wildlife would be lost. Farms are necessary but its best if everything were local.

[@marianfrances4959]

You forgot to mention Alaska's sheer beauty and volume of wilderness! 👍😎🇨🇦🌊🌲🌲🌲🌲

[@atatterson6992]

As a 50 year Alaskan, everything you mentioned is actually a good thing. You might as well be from Mars to expect roads, bridges and the like outside the greater Anchorage borough. That is all a GOOD thing and the reason for the ridiculously high percentage of private planes and boats per capita. I/We pray that never changes and that the Progressive Virus is unable to get a foothold.

[@specialk1416]

Alaska is one of the last remaining untouched places on earth. I hate land development. It is ruining the counties I brew up in in maryland. I hope to god it never happens in Alaska. “Growth” is not always a good thing. I sure hope Alaska doesn’t fall victim to it

[@jlinkous05]

Alaska, in Uncle Sam's eyes, is (*sunglasses*) Too Big To Fail. I'll leave now.

[@mandygershon8603]

We also provide a ton of seafood. ;) Great video, thanks!

[@ajb7530]

Please remember that the majority of the Northwest Passage belongs to Canada. It's not international waters.

[@LilMOMMAson]

$11 per square mile = *~$.02 per acre*

[@Dutch_Uncle]

And two cents per acre is about as high is about as high as you would want to go for the large chunks of bog, marsh, and swamp found in the state.

[@briankroenung7995]

You forgot to mention that the US Coast Guard has a presence in Alaska.

[@Grizzrie]

Do Not Destroy the Beautiful Nature and the Environment of Alaska. We Must Protect it.

[@Kasper666lowlife]

You must have forgotten about or didn’t know about Valdez a spanish settlement now a city

[@Ktamb]

There was crime before hip hop. There were drugs before hip hop. Criminality has been in decline for over 20 years. Coincidentally, HIP HOP has seen its greatest popularity during this same timeframe.

[@dum747]

I am an Alaskan and I approve this message

[@emmettkennedy8388]

I have to say, been living in Cordova for 12 years. we have copper literally SITTING ON THE MOUNTAINS AND IN THE RIVERS ALONG WIT GOLD. if all 2K ppl here decided to make cash, they would go to Miles lake and get the copper. we have many natural resources but the feds don't want us to use it bc it will "slow down the salmon" D.C., we depend on salmon to live. literally. you think we would just let the fish sit there? we would make fish laters. the federal gov doesn't want the alaskans to go out and make $$$$. the fed needs us, we don't need them

[@yodorob]

One little quibble...it's actually "British North America", not "British Canada". British North America became Canada upon Confederation in 1867. (Personal note: I'm in Montreal.)

[@bucknuts247sports3]

Then why aren't you writing this in French? (jk, good info.)

[@yodorob]

@@bucknuts247sports3 Was just making a technical correction, that's all.

[@jordanthomson8675]

The agriculture argument can be made and is interesting but when the ground becomes more dryer who do you think will get permission to start a project I think a few corporations and real estate will get first share before agriculturalists

[@lunhing5308]

Haarp is also there

[@thatguy4015]

There a whole lot of oil in Alaska. We just aren’t allowed to drill for it.

[@kingdomofgarvin3432]

Do one about Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹

[@ianstuart5660]

Yay, go, T & T!!

[@larryleker6366]

Kinda makes you wonder why we don't have a high speed rail line up the west coast, no?

[@Nika-cp9np]

There's a bit of a titanic impassable range of mountains that separates AK from the west coast. Even the singular road has to go around it. That said we've already got local rail here, but because Alaska*, it's priced extremely high to be a tourist's show train that no actual Alaskan can afford to use. It's massively cheaper to fly. Transit is, simply, beyond broken here. I'd be more than down for a rail line to the rest of the country, but it'd have to be paid federally to work, we're broke as hell right now and getting a train through that terrain is a big ask. *The entirety of Alaska is priced for a surgeon from Texas who wants to go on a hunting trip and not anyone from here. That surgeon on a week long trip would get to see more in that week than many people who live here would get to see in a lifetime. (Also, the entire agricultural point is kinda bunk because of how extremely acidic our soil is, most of the state is actually bog-land, and the extremely limited sunlight makes growing things here really tough without artificial lighting and climate controlled greenhouses, even in the southern parts of the state.)

[@EntertaningAmerica]

The USSR probably wouldn’t have kept Alaska through the Civil War. Most likely, we could’ve seen a similar situation as with Taiwan. With the Russian White Army (Monarchists/Social Democrats/others….Russian civil war history is really chaotic) escaping to Alaska and being aided/protected by US/British forces. People forget that the US actually sent a small expeditionary force that fought in Russia during the civil war (albeit mostly to protect allied interests/war supplies).

[@erynn9968]

Oh. would be lovely to have a Russian Taiwan, a Free Russian State... Especially now, when the most educated ru population just dispersed around the world, having nowhere to go.

[@kev492001]

Hopefully we buy Greenland here soon, then it could become a state in a few decades, this would be great!

[@georgetesseris3870]

Didn't realize Greenland was for sale. What do Greenlanders think about it?

[@poisonbcm5275]

I'm fairly sure greenland does not have nearly enough residents for statehood

[@johnmcnulty4425]

It's going to be hard to maintain transportation and other infrastructure when all the permafrost melts though.

[@bargdaffy1535]

Get Silly, California has the 5th largest economy in the World, Has 15% of U.S. GDP, it is by far the most important State.

[@randompersonh]

I was born and am being raised in Fairbanks. It got so hot this summer and it was so smoky you couldn’t be outside for over an hour. Global warming isn’t very nice here.

[@_Devil]

Can you imagine if Russia held on to Alaska, and we had to go through the entire Cold War with the Soviets having a strong foothold on the North American continent? The Cuban Missile Crisis would be nothing compared to how militarized the Yukon and B.C would have to become lmao

[@rb98769]

They would probably have lost it during the revolution, there was too much turmoil and supporting the whites would be too good an excuse for the US to pass up.

[@Министерствокосмическихдиванны]

@Devil can you imagine if Russia never sold Alaska,US wouldn’t even start fucking with Russia in first place

[@garvinbenjamin7124]

Do one about Trinidad and Tobago

[@rodrigovelasquez9854]

I would still give it to California, but the statement that it has potential to become the most important state is valid.

[@abu.hanifah1442]

Alaska should have professional sports teams. That way you can send people like Ben Simmons and Grinder there.

[@bearpawz_]

We have plenty of minor league hockey and D1 college hockey.. but I feel for the guys.. They really do some major traveling!! They definitely don't mind the air miles they get though and actually.. I've never heard their radio announcer that goes with them or any of them complain about it.. I don't foresee a professional sports team ever wanting to travel constantly though 😆 (I should say.. they do come up here (Anchorage) for various events.. but a professional team here?, nah.. I don't see it.. ✈✈✈

[@Kasper666lowlife]

Don’t send that garbage our way let cali or new york or hell send south of the border since grinder doesn’t like America

[@canadianpirateanders9951]

this year the state shoulda giving every Alaskan a snow blower.

[@anikethpragada7193]

Dawn Perrine-Gonzales has been to Anaska.

[@wm5297]

It would be useful to have some references/citations in the video description so some of us can delve deeper into this, especially those of us who are writing papers and cannot in good faith cite a KZbin video or Wikipedia article.

[@driveman6490]

Research the Crimean War (1853-1856), it will shed more light as to why Russia sold the territory.

[@stussymishka]

Used to think this was a horribly bad Russian deal. But the US could have easily took Alaska by force. Russia was smart to sell and at least get a small check from of it.

[@bucknuts247sports3]

Drop in the bucket money-wise. And now it was all fair and square and the Russians can't claim we stole it from them.

[@eastbear2]

It's a little spooky in your basement.

[@warrenkarmun138]

🤔If it is the most important they should lower fuel prices in the upper regions(above the arctic circle)Kotzebue for example-1 drum of stove-oil is $300.00 today's prices compared to the 70's - $98.00 .😤

[@savannah115]

Problem is the fuel is still processed outside Alaska. Which is good for Alaska's environment but bad for fuel prices because it means it has to leave and come back before we can use it here.

[@bigozimak]

Alaska was the greatest bargain buy in the history of the world! I bet the Russians are still kicking themselves about it.

[@dc7370]

The crime rate is like a Jim Thompson novel. It spiked perhaps triple the murder rate recently. the suicide number is mathematically astounding. 7 suicides in a smallish jail 2022.

[@stevefink6000]

If you discount the native villages, all those numbers plummet.

[@dc7370]

@@stevefink6000 absolutely not. Fairbanks is erupting & post. Staggering. 7 jail suicideds in 2022 . The guys who runs the place was on the front page talking about the numbers are. That doesn't count people freezing outside who don't get autopsies

[@Nika-cp9np]

@@stevefink6000 I live in Spenard, used to live in Homer and Anchor Point, and yeah nah, you're full of crap mate.

[@ghost21501]

This is the perfect time to move to Alaska. Cheap or even free land that will become quite valuable in the future.

[@michaelchen8643]

Russia was kind to put the position where they had to either sell Alaska to the Americans or the British would just take it has Great Britain was literally next-door When Seward offered to pay for Alaska restro, Osage jours $7 million for something we’re gonna lose anyway Logistical supply chain for people just was too long for rushing to maintain contact. Add to Garrison, a coastal settlement race in Alaska.

[@b.s.adventures9421]

Born n raised. It’s it’s own place.

[@b.s.adventures9421]

I grew up in the mat su valley. Lots of fertile soil. We jokingly made t shirts in high school back in the 90’s that said “Alaskans for global warming”

[@notlisteningwhocares8877]

Thank you to our military men and women .

[@garvinbenjamin7124]

Real Talk

[@markharder3676]

Of all states AK is the most dependent on US federal spending. Taxpayer money flowing into AK far exceeds revenue from the state.

[@sanniepstein4835]

A great deal of that is military spending, which hardly counts as dependence, as that is part of the entire nation's protection.

[@markharder3676]

@@sanniepstein4835 It's dependence in the sense that the money that flows into the state is used to pay employees and build facilities. These are activities that indirectly boost the state's economy. Without them, many of Alaska's people would be jobless and impoverished. Yes, these jobs have a vital function; but filling that function still takes taxpayer money away from other states.

[@EngineerDJ_Julius]

I would love to have a vacation home in Alaska

[@akapoka8732]

“Most important” is pretty bold, I get you have to get clicks and all though.

[@toddfischer9966]

Alaska superfarms? Will the permafrost be gone? ....

[@rosesmastadors-sb9gp]

WHHAATTT??? You said the USA might have to bail out Alaska??? We have $71.8 Billion in our Permanent Fund and our total yearly state budget is $4.1 Billion we could go for 15 YEARS without a single penny of income. We are the ONLY STATE that is fiscally responsible!

[@souheib9343]

On a map, it's so annoying that Alaska isn't Canadian

[@computersandgaming6664]

On a map, it's annoying that the entity of Canada is apart of the US.

[@onlythewise1]

its position and its oil is best

[@albertansah1373]

Alaska is the most important beautiful 😻 state in the Union as the best state to enjoy wildlife mountains 🏔️ snow and ice 🧊 from all over with so much fun beauty beyond hell.????.😂😢😮😅😮😢.

[@johnl5316]

we are still coming out of terrible Little Ice Age, thank goodness. This is primarily a natural variation in climate

[@williamhopkins4162]

They.will not.let ALASKA DEVELOP OUR RESOURCES!

[@brenthill3241]

Also with lower Manhattan predicted to be under water by 2018 people are simply going to need newer space to live. Yeah. I see what this channel is really about.

[@tommisera3816]

Exactly, the Arctic was supposed to be ice free by 2014. The last I looked there is still an awful lot of snow and ice. So it doesn’t look good to do any wide scale farming.

[@jpt7342]

Can you cite the scientific paper you got this from?

[@heatherofthe7]

I really like your content. However, please consider a speech/voice coach. I often wish I could read your script, rather than bracing myself for the painful recurring up-speak at the end of every sentence

[@awoodmann1746]

Nice basement

[@chrisseals6191]

The Spanish did have colonial sites in Alaska. Valdez and Cordova are 2 such examples

[@javi8435]

Question. Why is one of the poorest states??? Having so many richies???