Final Project - Anchorage, Education and Me - Timeline

1. Oct. 18th, 1867: The United States represented by Secretary of State Seward and Russia represented by Edward de Stoeckl work out a purchase agreement ratified by both governments.

• Link: The United States now has official dominion over Alaska.  Colonization and government cannot be far off.

Seward and Seward
 

2. 1884: The first Organic Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. 

• Link: Alaska is given its first formal governmental institutions.  A governor and Oregon state law form the backbone of Alaska's future self determination.  Now that Alaska is for Alaskan's can an educational system be far off?

Organic Act of 1884
  

3. 1884-1908: Sheldon Jackson is appointed by the Secretary of the Interior as an agent to oversee the educationl system in Alaska.

• Link: Alaska has its first formal educational system.  This would eventually lead to the creation of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development as well as the single largest school system in the state, the Anchorage School District.

   

4. 1889 and 1894: Creation of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company (1889) and Alaska Steamship Company (1894) begin regular service to Juneau from Seattle.

• Link: The beginning of regular freight and passenger transport helped create permanent population centers.  Anchorage and its harbor provide an ideal connection point between the lower 48 and the interior and Canada. 

Pacific Coast Steamship Co.


5. 1915-1923: Anchorage is established as the southern end of the railroad construction.

• Link: Anchorage is born!  From Alaska'a purchase to population growth to establishment.  Now, the only thing we need are government institutions...

Anchorage Today


6. March 6th, 2012: My AP Government students create the debate questions, and host, the Anchorage Rotary Club's 2012 Anchorage Mayoral Debate.

• Link: I made it to Anchorage, as a teacher in the ASD, and didn't bust!  Here's too many years and memories in Anchorage, AK and teaching the students of the Anchorage School District.

AP Government Class - Anchorage Mayoral Debate
 

Module IX - Alaska Governance and Contemporary Issues

Explain -


Source: http://otcwebdesign.com/case-studies-design-n-print/anilca-map.htm

Essential: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 1980 has been supported and derided by Alaskans, both in 1980 when it was passed and today. Describe three impacts of this landmark legislation.

1. One initial issue with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) was the divide between urban and native Alaskans;  "Urban Alaska seemed determined to keep Alaska open for development, but village Alaska wanted protection from development."  One of the earliest issues with ANILCA were parallel to those surrounding ANCSA.  The land claims and concerns of indigenous Alaskans clashed with those who saw Alaska not as a native homeland but as a resource rich land mass.  How best to use Alaska, be it for subsistence or resource extraction, provided much of the initial controversy surrounding the passage of legislation such as ANILCA prior to 1980.  The impact of both ANILCA and ANCSA would be one of some animosity between indigenous subsistence and land rights and those who would see Alaska open for development in any area of the state by anyone in the state.  A possible current parallel of this would be the Pebble Mine debate.      

2. Much like the question between subsistence/indigenous land rights and development, environmentalism and development struggled for who would dominate in the crafting of ANILCA.  Many environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and Wilderness Society sought to craft a piece of legislation that would defend lands for future generations.  Seeing Alaska as a place to protect pristine land in state and as example for environmental policy nationally, these groups sought to win as large a chunk of land as possible.  When Rep. Udall of AZ. proposed 115 million acres be protected under H.R. 39, ANILCA eventually provided for 104 million acres upon passage in 1980.  Even though the numbers are large many of the "hands off" demands of the environmental groups were not incorporated into ANILCA.  Float planes and snow machines are just some of the holes in total conservation of the wild resources.  The argument between environmentalists and developers mirrors that of subsistence user and developers.  Today the issue of which is more important, clean, unspoiled air, water and land for future generations or jobs now, still rages.             

3. ANILCA (and Alaska in general) is the poster child for a debate on dual versus cooperative federalism.  What prevails, the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or the Supremacy, Commerce and Necessary and Proper clauses of the U.S. Constitution?  Who benefits more ~700,000 thousand Alaskans or 308 million Americans?  For as much as ANILCA was a fight between indigenous, environmental and development groups it was also a fight between politicians.  In the Modern Alaska: ANILCA reading the story quickly develops between a House Rep. from Arizona named Morris Udall and two Alaska Senators named Stevens and Gravel.  Udall seeks to preserve portions of Alaska for all Americans, where Stevens and Gravel seek to defend lands for in state development.  This is a give-and-take not at all uncommon in American politics and usually develops not from ideological purity but more from political practicality.  Many in Congress feel very magnanimous when dealing with another state's land while becoming their own state's greatest champion when someone tries to return the favor in kind.  The same works for pork spending; federal dollars to your state is money well spent while to another seems simply a waste.  Again, there may be a parallel in the ANILCA discussion, post-passage, in the development of ANWAR.   



Source:https://www.institutenorth.org/programs/alaska-commons/anilca-seminars

Examine: Identify the Alaska Native regional corporation in the area of Alaska where you live. Examine its website and describe its mission and its current business ventures.



Source: http://www.ciri.com/

For the Anchorage/Cook Inlet the regional corporation is CIRI. 

• The mission of this native corporation is:
• "The mission of CIRI is to promote the economic and social well-being and Alaska Native heritage of our shareholders, now and into the future, through prudent stewardship of the company's resources, while furthering self-sufficiency among CIRI shareholders and their families."
• This mission statement is somewhat different than most businesses.  Most businesses claim responsibility for shareholder growth and resource management but would mean it solely for the sake of increasing profit margins.  This mission statement goes beyond being a simple "for profit" motto and comments on the heart of what ANCSA set out to do which is the growth and protection of a people as a resource, not simply resource acquisition. 
• The main projects for CIRI are:
• Cook Inlet Oil and Gas
• Natural gas development and power generation
• Fire Island Wind
• Wind turbine power development
• Tikahtnu Commons
• Commercial/Retail development in Anchorage (Muldoon) 
• Underground Coal Gasification
• Coal converted into synthesis gas

Evaluate -

This module highlights the diversity of interests in Alaska.  James Madison in the Federalist Papers 10 and 51 seeks to find a way to defend the the Constitution and finds his answer in a large republic full of factions.  This is exactly what Alaska has!  This massive land mass of few people but plenty of opinions is the perfect place to see how a robust discussion of republican and federalist virtues plays out in real politic.  This unit highlights all the high points of current political fights today; state rights versus federal regulation and which is best for America's future.  ANCSA and ANILCA capture this perfectly.  Also, Many Alaskans may not realize that their PFD is part of a larger global debate on the role of states and capitalism.  Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India and the United Arab Emerates also have their version of PFDs.  These nations are using their PFDs in much the same way as Alaska and also to help fuel the coffers of state sponsored industries.  I read a book on this a couple summers back that I will plug now to hopefully add to the discussion had in this module.  This module provides great classroom insight for students in understanding who actual politics plays out once the standard building blocks have been memorized (435 House reps, 100 senators...).


Don't let the title fool you, the book is in defense of innovative capitalism.

Site Seeing:

• http://myalaskanexploration.blogspot.com/
• http://explorealaskawithwhitney.blogspot.com/
• http://crossingalaska.blogspot.com/

Module VIII - World War II, A Turning Point for Alaska

Essential Question:

Explain how Alaska's location was considered 'strategic' during World War II. What were the war activities/events that supported the perspective of 'strategic' Alaska.

"As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008

Sarah Palin may not have been entirely wrong when giving her infamous, 'I can see Russia from my house,' quote.  Alaska was geographically significant during World War II and continues to be now.  During World War II Alaska was a military crossroads.  Three countries found Alaska pivotal in their campaigns, Japan, the U.S. and Russia. 

Japan -
After Japan declared war on the United States it needed to secure a foothold for men and material.  Hawaii, the more well known attack on the U.S., was not an obvious holding.  The Hawaiian islands are grouped in a relatively small part of the Pacific.  An immense oversea supply line would be needed to hold Hawaii.  Also, Hawaii would only serve as a way station in building another lengthy supply line to the mainland of the U.S. terminating in California with multiple U.S. naval and army bases.  The Japanese never intended for Hawaii to be anything more than a single military engagement to wipe out the American naval threat in the Pacific for the next several years.  Alaska would be the real target for waging a prolonged war against the U.S.

Alaska's Aleutian island chain formed  a semblance of an overland route to the United States.  This "overland" route was much more accessible to Japan than Hawaii.  Also, Alaska at this point was underpopulated and underdeveloped militarily.  The combination of location, geography and lack of U.S. infrastructure made Alaska the obvious sustained military target.

Russia -   
Russia was ill prepared for World War II.  Russia's problem in fighting a sustained land war against Germany had not changed a great deal since World War I.  Russian had not solved its problems of lack of infrastructure and shortage of quality civilian or military leadership.  The United States being slow to enter WWII was ill prepared for a fight once the decision was made for us by Japan.  With a two front war to be fought we needed allies that could, at the very least, fight by proxy until we reached full strength.  Russia was that ally against the Germans on the Eastern front.  Using the ALSIB project the U.S. was able to bolster the Russians and their campaign against the Nazis.  Alaska was, and is today, the obvious choice for flying into Russian airspace.         

U.S. -
The U.S. used Alaska as a buffer territory to help defend the lower 48 from Japanese attacks and to help supply our then ally, Russia.

Strategic Alaska

Source: http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/02/24/addressing-potential-impacts-of-base-realignment-and-closure-act-brac-on-alaskan-communities/

Explain:

Consider the large military presence in Alaska today, and the impact of that population on our Alaska culture.

The presence of the U.S. military on Alaskan culture today cannot be overstated.  Anchorage is a microcosm of how much an impact the military is on Alaska.  Anchorage is home to the largest military base in Alaska.  This means we have the largest number of active military member in Alaska (Alaska having the largest number of veterans per capita of all 50 states).  Having a population built from active and retired service members means Anchorage is culturally sensitive to all aspects of military life, including the most tragic.  Recently, the voters in Anchorage (many active and retired service members) approved a proposition to help military widows.  Proposition 7, as it appeared on the ballot, shows just how significant the military is to the people/culture of Anchorage, and Alaska. 

Prop 7, property tax exemption for widows or widowers of those killed while serving in the U.S. military: This proposition would allow the city to offer an exemption for up to $150,000 of a home's value. This is a tangible way of helping our military families when they most need it.
Source: http://www.adn.com/2012/04/01/2402436/our-view-ballot-propositions.html

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/04/01/2402436/our-view-ballot-propositions.html#storylink=cpy

Consider the impact of the federal spending on the Alaska economy.

Many Alaskans are highly critical of the federal government but without federal dollars Alaska would instantly be vaulted back to pre-WWII territory status.  A study was conducted by UAA in 2006 by Scott Goldsmith.  The study shows that the federal government spent $9.25 billion on Alaska in that year alone, $3 billion of that solely for the military.  The study also points out that if federal spending in Alaska is reduced in what are called vulnerable spending areas, Alaska could see the loss of up to 20,000 jobs.  Oil and mineral wealth could offset the loss of federal dollars in part but the point remains, Alaska and the federal government are intertwined.  Alaska was purchased by the U.S. government, developed by the U.S. government and is in part maintained by the U.S. government today. 

Source: http://iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/webnote/Federal_Spending2008.pdf

Evaluate:   

This unit on its own was interesting.  I have heard bits and pieces of what had happened in Alaska during WWII but did not have a complete picture.  This unit served to combine and flesh out how pivotal Alaska was for the war effort.  The unit is best used in a U.S. History, AK studies or even world History context.  However, the above 'Explain' questions were items that I have brought up in my own Government classroom.  Alaska's state issues are great jumping off points for continued discussion on the U.S. Government.  BRAC closures, Anchorage port, mayoral races, Prop 5 & 7, all segway nicely to full discussions of military spending, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, potential conflict with Iran or North Korea, the commerce clause and equal protection.  Alaska is eight hours away from anywhere in the world by air and just as centrally located in many American debates.  

Site Hopper:

• http://underwoodexploresalaska.blogspot.com/
• http://myalaskanexploration.blogspot.com/
• http://peterbenoitalaskablog.blogspot.com/

Module VII - American Period: Society

Essential -

How have the ways Alaskans have devised education and health care systems been both a reflection of socio-cultural norms of the dominant culture as well as a response to the challenges of providing services in a vast geographic area?

Alaskans have developed ways of dealing with the two most basic community resources, health and education, in ways as unique as the state.  In the early American settlement period the dominate culture of the time used methods that it thought were best and most efficient.  An example of this was in 1881 when Commander Glass attempted to improve school attendance by punishing families through fines and humiliating practices.  Little, if any, care was taken to understand the cultural background or needs of the indigenous community.  Through the questions answered below, more examples of how Alaska's dominate culture coupled with the vastness of geography will be explored.

Unique Health care Challenge
 
Source: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/alaska-hospital-contends-nosey-moose-walking-through-its-doors-video

Examine -

Since the 1870's, what are the types of communities that have evolved in Alaska?

Alaska's development was initiated by two arms, the U.S. Government and extraction based industry.

Government:

The initial U.S. presence in Alaska after 1867 was military and civil service.  This is evident when looking at Ivan Petroff's first census.  33,000 indigenous people versus 400+ Americans.  As the reading points out, this is to be expected for a fledgling territory.  Even though the first colonists were adventure ready individuals some level of government service and protection is needed/expected before fully committing.  The first twenty years would see the building of an initial Alaska territorial infrastructure couched in the U.S. military and Treasury Department.

In 1900 the U.S. government, through the military, created the first Alaskan road and telegraph systems.  Also, the completion the U.S. built rail line in 1923 provided a stable way to transport large amount of goods and people along its route.  Having stable means of communication and trade fueled the creation of settlements along the route.  This pattern continues today when looking at population centers in Alaska.

Industry:

Mining would prove to be the turning point in Alaska's development.  Today's capital of Juneau began as mining camp.  Beyond simple mining camps, Alaska would be an important supply line to the Klondike gold rush of 1898.  Towns such as Valdez started as supply camps.  Alaska would serve as an important supply line of men and material for inland gold rushes.

Like other industrial states at the turn of the last century, Alaska too utilized the model of "company town."  Alaskan canneries would build "towns" for their workers.  Between mining the land and the sea, Alaska was beginning to build small population centers that continue to the present.

What role did Sheldon Jackson play in creating an early education system for Alaska?  

Sheldon Jackson's role in the creation of an Alaskan education system was that of innovator.  Congress' Organic Act gave Alaska the authority and funds to begin an education system.  However, the funds topping out at $40,000 in 1885 could not possibly educate all of Alaska.  The money may have been enough for other territories but the sheer immensity of Alaska and the lack of infrastructure made it woefully inadequate.  Presbyterian Sheldon Jackson was appointed the task of taking these funds and creating a viable education system.

Jackson's innovate solution to spreading thin education dollars across Alaska was both inventive and controversial.  Jackson contracted out the education of Alaska's youth to different church organizations/missions.  By giving each religion a sphere of influence in Alaska the denominations would be provided a group of potential converts without distraction from competing religious interests while a region of Alaska gained a school, a religious school.  This led to the controversial part of Jackson's plan.  

American founder Thomas Jefferson is quoted as warning for a "wall of separation" between church and state.  The schooling of children, outside the private or parochial school, has been the function of government (local, state, federal).  Alaska and Jackson's plan was utilizing federal money in whole or part.  This mixing of one man's religion and another man's taxes provided the controversy.    

Alaskan School Districts

Source: http://alaskateacher.org/alaska_school_districts.php

How have the health care issues impacted Alaska's Native population?

The indigenous populations have been a central focus in Alaska's health care issues. From small pox and measles to TB the indigenous populations have taken the brunt of casualties from infectious disease.  Initially this was do to the lack of exposure to disease bred from large populations in unsanitary urban centers.  More recent outbreaks such as influenza and TB have hit indigenous populations because of immunities but also because of the lack of infrastructure and knowledge. 

The lack of information and access to care have plagued subsistence villages.  The village populations did not have a depth of personnel or resources on hand to deal with outbreaks.  Also, their remoteness did not facilitate immediate care when outbreaks occurred.  Another roadblock to keeping villages protected from outbreak may be the number of agencies that were created over the years, churches, Revenue Service, Bureau of education, Bureau of Indian Affairs.  The multiple agencies/groups all have their own methods and motivations that had to be maneuvered through just to gain access to care and depending on the point of history we are dealing with, the specific agency may have been less than accommodating.

Village Clinic: Diomede

Source:http://www.evlanelli.com/art34.htm

Site Hopper -

• http://clairepowellalaskanhistoryblog.blogspot.com/
• http://dianeisexploringalaska.blogspot.com/
• http://garysalaskablog.blogspot.com/