Aims of this presentation

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Aims of this presentation

• Introduction to Alaskan history
• Alaskas role in the idea of the frontier
• Frontier problems
• The Alaskan frontier in the 20th century
• The future for the Frontier discourse

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Alaska The facts

• Alaska is located in the extreme northwest
  portion of North America. It is by far the
  largest U.S. state in area, but one of the least
  populated. It is the 49th state, having been
  admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959. The
  name "Alaska" is most likely derived from the
  Aleut Alyeska, meaning "great country",
  "mainland" or "great land".

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More facts!

• Alaska became a Russian colony in 1744, but the
  first Russian settlement, Nikolaevsk on Kodiak
  Island, was founded only in 1784
• In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States
  for 7,200,000.
• Sewards folly
• One of the first American colonies. Enactment
  of the Monroe Doctrine

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Epitome of frontier life?

• Powerful idea of Last Frontier nostalgic
  American lure of freedom and liberty and the
  ability to master nature.
• Epitome of frontier life, harsh climate, harsh
  landscape.
• Generic problems of day to day frontier life
  accentuated in Alaska.

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Freedom and Opportunity for all?

• Geographical isolation
• Alaskans feel that their state offers more
  opportunity and freedom than Lower 48
• Rich in natural resources
• Relatively free from crime and social problems?

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Common problems with the conventional frontier

• Racial inequalities Jim Crow segregation
  Terrence M. Cole
• Particularly harsh to Native Americans
• Russian creoles also discriminated against.
• Other problems include alcoholism among Alaskans
• Feminist discourse overlooked in this male
  dominated environment

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Exxon Valdez disaster

• Exxon Valdez was the original name of an oil
  tanker owned by the former Exxon Corporation. It
  gained widespread infamy after the March 24, 1989
  oil spill in which the tanker hit Prince William
  Sound's Bligh Reef and spilled an estimated 11 to
  30 million U.S. gallons.

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Exxon Valdez amid Alaskan backdrop
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Effects of Exxon Valdez on modern America

• Mastery of wild environment gone too far?
• Exploitation of nature.
• Romance of Alaskan nature destroyed by modern
  technology
• Secondary closing of frontier?

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Modern Day Alaska

• Has Alaska become a tourist attraction
  Wilderness for all.
• Americans, nostalgic over the closing of the last
  frontier.

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