Changes

====Becoming How did Alaska become a State?====The Second Organic Act in 1912 formally made Alaska a United States territory by this time. Still, with the population then being over there were only 50,000 in the stateregion. The Additionally, the 1930s saw was a challenging economic time for Alaska. There were multiple crashes in mining and fishing prices for Alaskans, depressing which depressed the economy. However, some US settlers came as President Roosevelt saw the region near modern Anchorage, Alaska , as being conducive for agriculture and settled some US citizens . Some Americans were convinced to settle in the region area to develop agriculture as part of the economy. The 1930s and 1940s saw the airplane becoming the most important vehicle of transport, as the lack of roads and railroads made this the easiest way to move around in the state.

World War II would make Alaska, once again, an important part of US national defense. First, it was The 1930s and 1940s saw the airplane become the invasion essential vehicle of Japanese in World War IItransport, with as the occupation lack of Attu roads and Kiska in railroads made this the Aleutian islands, during the war increasing US military commitment. Even today, throughout Alaska defensive embankments and fortifications for an anticipated larger invasion can be seen in different parts of easiest way to move around the state. The Alaska–Canada Military Highway, used to supply the USSR during the war with US war materials, was built in 1942, connecting Alaska to the mainland US via a highway system for the first time. One could now drive from Minnesota to Fairbanks, Alaska, which also This technological advance helped increase trade and the population of Alaskans expand across the state.

The city World War II turned Alaska into a critical component of US national defense policy. First, it was the invasion of Japanese in World War II, with the occupation of Anchorage Attu and Kiska in the 1940s became Alaska's largest city as it expanded due to Aleutian Islands, during the war increasing US military personnel being based in commitment. Throughout Alaska , defensive embankments and increasing number fortifications for an anticipated, more massive invasion can be seen in different parts of bases builtthe state. The discovery of oil in Alaska–Canada Military Highway, was used to supply the USSR during the Kenai Peninsula war with US war materials. It was built in 1957 and 1942, connecting Alaska to the rise of mainland US via a highway system for the Cold War in 1945 led first time. One could now drive from Minnesota to Fairbanks, Alaska being seen as an important US territory for defense , which also helped increase trade and resources. President Eisenhower in 1958 signed the Alaska Statehood Act that would formally bring population of the territory to statehood in 1959. Many worried Alaska would not be able to support itself financially as a state.

The 9.2 1964 Good Friday (March 27) Earthquake, North Americacity of Anchorage in the 1940s became Alaska's largest ever recorded earthquake, while devastating, did demonstrate city as it expanded due to military personnel being based in Alaska and increasing the number of bases built. The discovery of oil in the Kenai Peninsula in 1957 and the rise of the Cold War in 1945 increased the value of Alaska could quickly recover and its bountiful resources proved pushed the desire to turn Alaska into a draw for corporations. This helped cement the state's population growth and drive for statehood. Native rights were still discriminatoryIn 1958, by law, until 1945, until President Eisenhower signed the Anti-Discrimination Alaska Statehood Act of 1945 was signed that banned discrimination formally brought the territory to statehood in the 1959. Many worried Alaska would not be able to support itself financially as a state against Alaskan Natives.

The 9.2 1964 Good Friday (March 27) Earthquake, North America's largest-ever recorded earthquake, while devastating, demonstrated that Alaska was resilient. It quickly recovered financially from the tragedy, and its bountiful resources played a key role. These resources also became a significant draw for corporate investment. This helped cement the state's population growth and drove the push for statehood.  Unfortunately, Alaskan law openly discriminated against Native Americans until 1945. The Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 curbed discrimination in the state against Alaskan Natives.  Because the state was admitted relatively late in US history, Native rights have been better protected and today . Today, much of the state is owed still owned by Native populations. For instance, in the 1958 statehood Act, the provision made it illegal for land to be taken away from Native titleholders, which was never the case . This legal provision did not apply in any of the lower 48 states.<ref>For more on the years before statehood and how the push for statehood developed, see: Naske, C.-M., & Slotnick, H. E. (1987). <i>Alaska: a history of the 49th state (2nd ed.)</i>. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.</ref>