Va-PoReg Country Report Alaska 1900–1958

On this date, the region of Alaska was formally transferred from Russian administration to that of the United States. The administration of the region was initially carried out by the U.S. military and later taken over by other American institutions, such as the Department of the Treasury and the Navy.¹ Due to the absence of any forms of political participation for the Indigenous population and the fact that all political decisions were made by the military, thus by officials appointed by and accountable to the colonial metropolitan power, the system can be classified as a Direct Rule Colonial Regime. Through the transition to the District of Alaska in 1884, the region was granted its own government under the District Organic Act.² This government was appointed and dismissed by the U.S. federal authorities and therefore remained under the full control of the United States. Although self-government was not possible, this act nonetheless introduced a limited form of self-administration. At the beginning of the systematic observation period on 01/07/1900, Alaska was governed as a Direct Rule Colonial Regime under United States authority. Political power was exercised exclusively by federally appointed officials, and no representative institutions with autonomous decision-making powers existed.

With the Territorial Organic Act, Alaska’s status changed from the District of Alaska to the Territory of Alaska. This change established a parliament consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.³ Due to the participatory elements of its parliamentary system, the Territory of Alaska can be classified as an Indirect Rule Colonial Regime.

On this day, Alaska was admitted to the United States as the 49th state. This change brought about legal equality, participation in U.S. elections, and a federal form of self-government.⁴ The repeated participation in elections and representation in legislative and executive bodies can be seen as indicators of the legitimacy of Alaska’s government through the consent of its population.

For the time after 01/03/1959, see United States of America