Option b) is not directly associated with the exploration of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, and option d) refers to the purchase of Alaska rather than exploration. The primary drivers were the discovery of gold, the closure of the western frontier, and the availability of open space in the northern regions.
The reasons why people wanted to explore Alaska and the Yukon Territory include:
a) Gold had been discovered in that area:
The Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century drew thousands of prospectors and settlers to Alaska and the Yukon Territory in search of gold.
c) The western frontier was declared closed:
The closing of the western frontier prompted people to look for new opportunities and resources, and Alaska offered a relatively unexplored frontier.
e) There was little open space in the lower 48 states and territories:
Overpopulation and competition for resources in the lower 48 states led some individuals to seek new opportunities and available land in the vast and less populated regions of Alaska and the Yukon.
While b) and d) are not directly associated with the exploration of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, the quest for gold and new opportunities in the face of a declared closed western frontier were significant drivers for exploration and settlement in these northern regions.
Question:
Why did people want to explore Alaska and the Yukon Territory? Check all that apply.
a) Gold had been discovered in that area.
b) The western frontier had been expanded.
c) The western frontier was declared closed.
d) Many Americans supported the purchase of Alaska.
e) There was little open space in the lower 48 states and territories.