On 18 October 1867 theAlaska it officially became part of the United States. Washington had bought it from the Russian Empire for 7.2 million dollars (equal to about 129 today). More than someone criticized the purchase, strongly supported by the Secretary of State William Seward. An enormous territory, then practically uninhabited and – at the time – considered devoid of resources. Things changed when it was discovered that it was instead very rich in gold and other raw materials. It became a state – the largest in the union – in 1959 (just before Hawaii). Puerto Rico a state it is not yet. The island was ceded by Madrid to the USA on October 18, 1898, after the Spanish-American War. Over the years there have been various non-binding referendums to decide on the future of the island – whether to remain an “unincorporated territory” or become a full-fledged state – but the debate is still open.
