Alaska History of Education, Land, and People

By vinales

  • Russia's Encounter

    Mikhail Gvozdez sailed to King island where natives approached his ship. This was the first contact with the American mainland and natives.
  • Period: to

    Russian Voyages

    Russia had over 60 voyages to Alaska to learn about the land, its people, climate, and resources.

  • Alaska Claimed

    Bering sailed to southeast Alaska and exchanged goods with the natives.
    Russia claims the land of Alaska

  • Russian Port

    Gregoril Shelikhov and his group created the first permanent Russian post in Alaska. This allowed them to save on travel costs and work in partnership with the natives.

  • Russia Orthodox Missionaries

    First Russian Orthodox missionaries came to Alaska. They taught the natives and ways of Christianity. The missionaries typically defended and supported the natives.

  • Helping the Natives

    John Veniaminov worked with the Native leaders to develop alphabets for their languages. They translated different Russian texts to their language. While learning more about their culture, he taught the Natives skills such as carpentry and brick laying.

  • No Operating Schools

    Russian schools were closed down.

  • Alaska becomes a Territory

    Russia realizes Alaska is more of a liability than a helpful resource.
    Russia sells Alaska to America (due to financial ruin as a result of the Crimean War). The natives were not pleased of the sale since the Russian never technically owned the land. The US saw the benefits of expanding America's trade and influence in Asia along with the opportunities of whaling, fishing, and fur trade.
  • Period: to

    No Civil Government in Place

  • First Newspaper

    Sitka Times was published which was the first Alaskan newspaper.

  • Civil government formed-school opened for short period

    Residents of Sitka formed a civil governmenr and bought a building and a teacher for the school. It quickly shut down once the teacher was notified of a pay cut from $75 to $20 a month.

  • Gold Mining starts near Juneau

  • Gold Discovered near Sitka

  • Presbyterian mission schools

    Sheldon Jackson initiated policies to change the educational system. He was able to setup six Presbyterian mission schools and encourage other missionaries to create schools. The ultimate goal was to convert Alaska Natives into American Protestant Christians.

  • Two public schools in Sitka

    One school for Natives, the other for non-Natives

  • First Organic Act

    The federal law that brought civil government to Alaska. This
    also allowed for public education in Alaska. Jackson originally wanted integrated schools, but from community pressure the schools were segregated. Although schools were all taught in English, Native languages were looked down upon. Congress passed this act in which $15000 is given to the education of Alaska Natives.

  • Jackson appointed as Agent of Education

    Jackson's role in Alaska was to supply education to the children. Several schools were created, but separated for white and Native children. Jackson believed the Native children needed to become civilized and started by banning use of Native Languages in all schools.

  • 60,000+ people arrive in Alaska in search of gold

  • Period: to

    Klondike Gold Rush

    Brought over 100,000 people to northern part of Alaska; doubling the state's population.

  • New Capital

    Capital of Alaska changes from Sitka to Juneau.

  • First Oil Production

  • Tongass National Forest

    President Theodore Roosevelt established the Tongass National Forest

  • Native Allotment Act

    Natives can now get land under the restricted title.

  • Orthodox Church multicultural and bilingual schools in Alaska closed

  • Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines

    School opens operating out of one building and having six students. later in 1935 it becomes known as the University of Alaska.

  • Alaskan Native children allowed to attend public schools

  • Alaska becomes the 49th State

  • Good Friday Earthquake

    An 8.6 earthquake hit in Valdez lasting for 4 minutes. It is the largest recorded earthquake in North America causing fires, tsunamis and land damage.

  • Prudhoe Bay Oil Discovery

    Oil discovered in Prudhoe Bay. This remains one of the largest oil fields in North America.

  • Native's Claim Settlement Act

    Natives fight from having heir land being sold and taken away from them. Natives win the case and awarded 44 million acres of land and $1 billion. The government also agreesto have 1/3 of the state's land set aside only for national forests.

  • Alaska Permanent Fund

    Created to insure long term benefits from oil revenues.

  • Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline Finished

    Pipeline runs 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez to transport oil.

  • Alaska's 25th Statehood Anniversary

    Alaska celebrates its 25th birthday being considered the fastest growing state.

  • Exxon oil spill

    Good Friday, Largest oil spill of 240,000 barrels of oil near Prince William Sound.

  • Alaska's population reaches 550,000

  • ESSA Passed

    Every Student Succeeds Act was passed by Congress in December.

  • 1.2 Million barrels of Oil discovered

    The largest onshore discovery of oil in the US in the last 30 years. Production can commence in 2021 and lead to 120,000 barrels of output per day.

  • Income Tax discussed to assist with annual deficit