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57-419: The Alaska High School Activities Association was founded in 1957 by the territorial board of education, when the need arose for a regulating body in local and regional basketball tournaments. By 1973, separate regions were formed for basketball competition. By 1987, ASAA became fully independent from state government control or oversight. Currently, ASAA serves as the organizing body for over 190 schools, with

114-505: A de facto dependent of the commerce on the state of Washington . The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the provision of the Constitution saying one state should not hold sway over another's commerce did not apply because Alaska was only a territory. The prices Seattle's shipping businesses charged began to rise to take advantage of the situation. The Great Depression caused prices of fish and copper, which were vital to Alaska's economy at

171-415: A Republican-leaning territory) but not Alaska (then a Democratic-leaning territory). By March, frustrated by Eisenhower's refusal to support statehood for Alaska, a Senate coalition led by Democrats tied the fates of Alaska and Hawaii statehood together as one package. The procedural move was backed by some Southern Democrats, concerned about the addition of new votes in the civil rights for blacks movement, in

228-520: A combined enrollment of over 35,000 students. Billy Strickland has been the Executive Director since July, 2014. The organization is headquartered in the "U-Med District" of Anchorage . ASAA's March Madness state basketball tournament is one of the largest yearly prep sports events in Alaska, mainly because of basketball's unrivaled popularity in rural and urban areas alike. The tournament showcases

285-712: A key to the Pacific during the war, with a resulting population increase due to the number of American servicemen sent there. It remained critically important in deterring Soviet aggression through the Bering Strait during the Cold War . However, many barriers still stood between Alaska and statehood. Many Alaskans, like the Lomen brothers of Nome and Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop , who benefited largely from Alaska's small tax base, did not want themselves or their businesses to be hurt financially by

342-411: A result, such as fishing, trapping, mining, and mineral production. Alaska's resources were depleted to the extent that it came to be considered a "colonial economy". However, Alaska was still considered a district, and local governments often had little control over local affairs. Several issues arose that made it more difficult for Alaska to push toward self-government. One of these was the formation of

399-535: Is led by a 16-seat executive board composed of students selected for either one or two-year terms. Territory of Alaska The Territory of Alaska or Alaska Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from August 24, 1912, until Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959. The territory was previously Russian America , 1784–1867; the Department of Alaska , 1867–1884; and

456-542: The 19th Amendment as it was a territory. Racial segregation was practiced in Territorial Alaska toward Native Alaskans lasting until 1945 when the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945 was signed into law banning racial segregation and discrimination making it the first law of its kind in the United States. On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state. There was some delay because of concern by members of

513-583: The Anchorage Football Stadium over the course of two weeks. ASAA regulates the following interscholastic activities: ASAA also regulates the statewide student government association, the Alaska Association for Student Government (AASG). This child organization includes about 150 member high schools all across Alaska. Collectively, local AASG programs serve over 25,000 young people in their home schools and statewide. The statewide organization

570-637: The Ballinger–Pinchot affair in order to help achieve this. As a result of the affair, Alaska was on the national headlines, and President William Howard Taft was forced to send a message to Congress on February 2, 1912, insisting that they listen to Wickersham. In August 1912 Congress passed the Second Organic Act, which established the Territory of Alaska with a capital at Juneau and an elected legislature. The federal government still retained much of

627-474: The Cold War . Alaska's strategic importance to the United States became more apparent during World War II. In April 1942, over 200 people of Japanese origin in the territory were forcibly removed and sent to internment camps inland as a result of Executive Order 9066 , which authorized the government to evict and intern any person of Japanese descent from the Pacific Coast . From June 1942 until August 1943

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684-565: The Department of Alaska . From 1884 to 1912, it was organized as the District of Alaska , and from 1912 to 1959, it was organized into the incorporated Territory of Alaska . Alaskans had sought statehood since as early as the 1920s, though this vision was not realized until the decade after World War II . In 1884, the Department of Alaska was organized into the District of Alaska, when Congress passed

741-549: The District of Alaska , 1884–1912. Passage of the 1899 Criminal Code which, among other things, included a tax on liquor, led to increased calls for Alaskan representation in Congress, and the debate finally ended on August 24, 1912, when the Alaska District became an organized, incorporated territory of the United States. The Second Organic Act of 1912 renamed the District to the Territory of Alaska. By 1916, its population

798-681: The "Alaska Syndicate" in 1906 by the two industry barons J. P. Morgan and Simon Guggenheim . Their influence spread, and they came to control the Kennecott copper mine, steamship and railroad companies, and salmon packing. The influence of the Syndicate in Washington D.C. opposed any further movement towards Alaskan home rule. James Wickersham , however, grew increasingly concerned over the exploitation of Alaska for personal and corporate interests and took it upon himself to fight for Alaskan self-rule. He used

855-503: The 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959. The law was the culmination of a multi-decade effort by many prominent Alaskans, including Bartlett, Ernest Gruening , Bill Egan , Bob Atwood , and Ted Stevens . The law was first introduced by James Wickersham in 1916, shortly after the First Organic Act. However, due to a lack of interest from Alaskans, the bill was never introduced. Efforts ramped up in 1943, with Bartlett's rendition of

912-501: The Alaskan statehood cause, changed his mind and when Congress reconvened in January 1958, President Eisenhower fully endorsed the bill for the first time. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson promised his commitment to the bill but others still stood in the way, such as Representative Howard W. Smith of Virginia, Chairman of the powerful Rules Committee, and Thomas Pelly of Washington State who wanted

969-547: The Alaskan waters to be open to use by Washingtonians. Senator Prescott Bush of Connecticut stated that Alaska's population was too small, the territory was non-contiguous, economic conditions were unstable and statehood would increase taxes sharply, which would thus disrupt economic development within the state. Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri spoke that making Alaska a state "would strengthen our national defense", and Senator Wayne Morse stated that "the bill's effect on foreign relations 'would be tremendous,' for it would show

1026-710: The First National Bowl. Currently, 10 teams play at the Division I level in the Cook Inlet and Chugak conferences, while 8 teams play at the DII classification. There are 10 teams playing in the Division III classification. The Whalers of Barrow High School are the northernmost high school football team in the United States. The culminating state tournament football games, sponsored by First National Bank Alaska , take place at

1083-575: The House Ralph J. Rivers . Gruening, Egan, and Rivers attended Congress and were politely received, though they were not officially seated or recognized in any way. The Alaskan delegation did not give up, however, and worked hard with Bartlett to pressure the Congress into action. Eventually, with the help of Bartlett's influence, the Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn , who until 1957 had been an ardent opponent of

1140-664: The Japanese invaded the U.S. by way of the Aleutian Islands chain, in the Battle of the Aleutian Islands . This marked the first time since the War of 1812 that American soil was occupied by a foreign enemy. The Japanese were eventually repelled from the Aleutian Islands by a force of 34,000 American troops. In the spring and summer of 1945, Cold Bay on the Alaska Peninsula was the site of

1197-568: The New Year right." Women made bouquets of Alaska's flower, the Forget-Me-Not and sent them to members of Congress. Movements such as "Operation Statehood" also put increasing pressure on Congress. "Lack of public interest" could no longer be used as a feasible excuse to prevent statehood. In 1954 territorial governor B. Frank Heintzleman proposed that Alaska be divided at the 156th meridian west . Most Alaskans opposed his proposal. In interest of

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1254-481: The Organic Act allowing Alaska to become a judicial district as well as a civil one, with judges, clerks, marshalls, and limited government officials appointed by the federal government to run the territory. Furthermore, during the 1896–1910 gold rush eras (mainly in the cities of Klondike , Nome , and Fairbanks ), hundreds of thousands of people traveled to Alaska in search for gold. Several industries flourished as

1311-572: The Second Organic Act took up much time but came to no avail. Instead, Congress passed the Jones Act (also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 ) and the White Act of 1924 both of which made the fishing problem worse for Alaskans rather than better. Alaskans were angered by these two acts and felt they were discriminatory. Matters were made worse by regional conflicts which drew attention away from

1368-653: The Shadow U.S. Representative, working towards pressuring the U.S. Congress for Alaska's statehood. Atwood similarly rallied support by using his job as a trusted news source to rally Alaskans for statehood. Stevens worked on masterminding the executive branch's attack, using his powerful executive office as Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, along with Interior Secretary Fred Seaton , to lobby for Alaska's statehood, placing reporters in any and all news hearings to pressure President Eisenhower & Congressmen to switch in favor of

1425-505: The act being introduced first in 1947 and 1950, with the backing of President Harry Truman . However, due to opposition from powerful southern U.S. Congressmen, it took until 1958 to pass the law, with the convincing of Bob Bartlett. Gruening worked on rallying support from Alaskans, launching the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1956, which elected Bill Egan and Gruening as Shadow U.S. Senators , and Ralph Rivers as

1482-634: The agency name was changed to Alaska Territorial Police and additional personnel were hired from among the U.S. marshals' ranks. The agency became the Alaska Territorial Police in 1953, and again changed its title to Alaska State Troopers in 1967. Prior to statehood, the Federal Bureau of Prisons had correctional jurisdiction over Alaska. Under the Tennessee Plan, Alaska had unrecognized senators and an at-large representative, also being

1539-499: The belief that only those who grew up with climates similar to that of Alaska's could handle settler life there. The United Congo Improvement Association asked the president to settle 400 African-American farmers in Alaska, saying that the territory would offer full political rights, but racial prejudice and the belief that only those from northern states would make suitable colonists caused the proposal to fail. The exploration and settlement of Alaska would not have been possible without

1596-603: The bill was then shot down in the Senate, again for fear of adding more Democrats to the 81st Congress (1949–1951), as the Democrats already had 54 seats to 42 Republican seats. On February 27, 1952, the Senate by a one-vote margin (45-44) killed the statehood bill for another year, with Southern Democrats having threatened a filibuster to delay consideration. In the 1954 State of the Union address, Eisenhower referred to statehood for Hawaii (then

1653-561: The control over laws regarding fishing, gaming, and natural resources and the governor was also still appointed by the President. In 1916, Wickersham, who was now a delegate to Congress, proposed the first bill for Alaska's statehood. The bill, however, failed, partly due to lack of interest among Alaskans in gaining statehood. Discrimination against the Alaskan Territory made it difficult for Congress to get much done. Discussion of revising

1710-411: The day ending after midnight). However, beginning with the 2006 season and beyond, the tournament format was altered to accommodate week-long, early Monday through late Saturday play with the majority of games at all classifications played at Sullivan Arena . Sullivan Arena , primarily a hockey venue, was reconfigured to contain two full-sized basketball courts for the tournament week. Beginning in 2015,

1767-426: The development of aircraft, which allowed for the influx of settlers into the state's interior, and rapid transportation of people and supplies throughout. However, owing to unfavorable weather conditions and the high ratio of pilots to population, over 1,700 aircraft wreck sites are scattered throughout Alaska. Numerous wrecks also trace their origins to the military build-up of the state during both World War II and

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1824-572: The divisions, whose capital was Juneau, wondered if it could become a separate state from the other three. Government control was a primary concern, with the territory having 52 federal agencies governing it. In 1920, the Jones Act required U.S.-flagged vessels to be built in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens and documented under the laws of the United States. All goods entering or leaving Alaska had to be transported by American carriers and shipped to Seattle prior to further shipment, making Alaska

1881-533: The eight best teams (selected by region-wide divisional tournaments) from 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A classifications in standard, separate, two tiered brackets that accommodate 5th place, 3rd place, and championship games. The tournament, hence the name, takes place usually during the last half of the month of March, and has, at times in the past, taken place during the Anchorage School District ’s spring break. During this event, thousands of people from all over

1938-451: The fervent urging of Bartlett by a 64–20 vote. On January 3, 1959, after much struggle and through the efforts of many, Alaska finally became the 49th state of the United States of America after President Eisenhower signing of the official declaration. Three propositions had to be passed by Alaskans in order for statehood to happen: All three propositions were approved by Alaskans in a special election held on August 26, 1958. Voter turnout

1995-616: The formation of a dedicated territorial law enforcement agency, law enforcement in Alaska was handled by a various federal agencies for decades including the U.S. Army , Navy , and the Revenue Cutter Service . With the establishment of a civilian government in 1884, the United States Marshals Service also deployed deputy U.S. marshals across the territory. Federal marshals, police departments chartered by cities, and other federal law enforcement officers would serve as

2052-561: The growing fervor and enthusiasm towards the cause, a Constitutional Convention was held at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 1955. During this convention, Gruening gave a very powerful speech which compared Alaska's situation to the American struggle for independence. The famous speech was entitled "Let Us End American Colonialism" and had a very influential impact. The convention was highly praised and very emotional. The Constitution for Alaska

2109-489: The hope of defeating both measures. Six members of the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, including Senator Butler, went to Alaska in order to hold public hearings and see for themselves what the public sentiment was in Alaska. In response to the visit, Alaskans would not let Americans forget the cause. Citizens sent Christmas cards reading "Make [Alaskans'] future bright/Ask your Senator for statehood/And start

2166-427: The increase in taxes that would result from statehood. Other Alaskans feared that statehood would result in a flood of more people coming to Alaska, which they didn't want. There was enough of a majority, though, that did want statehood so as to be able to pass a referendum for statehood in Alaska in 1946 by a 3:2 vote. With the help of the referendum, Bartlett was able to introduce a bill to Congress. The bill, however,

2223-407: The issue of Alaskan statehood more known. He gathered a group of 100 prominent figures, including Eleanor Roosevelt , actor James Cagney , writers Pearl S. Buck and John Gunther , historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr , and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr , who all stood for the Alaskan cause. Another bill was introduced to Congress in 1949 and passed in the House by a 186 to 146 vote in 1950. However,

2280-644: The issue of statehood. In the 1930s, Alaska was plagued by the Great Depression . During this time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt did two significant things for Alaska. First, he allowed for 1,000 selected farmers hurt by the depression to move to Alaska and colonize the Matanuska-Susitna Valley , being given a second chance at agricultural success. Second (and sometimes considered to be more importantly), Roosevelt appointed Ernest Gruening as governor of Alaska in 1939. Edward Lewis "Bob" Bartlett , who

2337-417: The land that Alaska is granted and none got mineral rights or the option to choose which land to claim." Debate lasted for hours within both chambers, though eventually, though, the resistance was able to be bypassed, and the House passed the statehood bill by a 210–166 vote. The Senate, which had had its own version of the bill as well as the House's version, finally managed to pass the House's bill through

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2394-512: The largest and most ambitious transfer program of World War II, Project Hula , in which the United States transferred 149 ships and craft to the Soviet Union and trained 12,000 Soviet personnel in their operation in anticipation of the Soviet Union entering the war against Japan . At any given time, about 1,500 American personnel were at Cold Bay and Fort Randall during Project Hula. During

2451-526: The law. Stevens also authored parts of the Act (namely Section 10). Roger Ernst, Seaton's former Assistant Secretary for Public Land Management, said of Stevens: "He did all the work on statehood; he wrote 90 percent of all the speeches. Statehood was his main project." From 1867 to 1884, Alaska was considered to be a military district of the United States under the control of the federal government , known as

2508-455: The national Republican Party that Alaska would elect Democratic Party members to Congress, in contrast to Hawaii , which was also a contender for statehood at the same time and thought to have Republican Party support. In recent years these predictions have turned out to be just the opposite for both states. The Governor of the Territory of Alaska was appointed by the President of the United States and not an elected position. Alaska's governor

2565-500: The only shadow congressmen elected by their state, after the passage of the 17th Amendment. 64°N 153°W  /  64°N 153°W  / 64; -153 Alaska Statehood Act#The Second Organic Act The Alaska Statehood Act ( Pub. L.   85–508 , 72  Stat.   339 , enacted July 7, 1958 ) was a legislative act introduced by Delegate E. L. "Bob" Bartlett and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 7, 1958. Through it, Alaska became

2622-507: The primary means of territorial law enforcement until 1941, when the territorial legislature created the Alaska Highway Patrol. Highway patrolmen only patrolled the main highways of Alaska, and did not visit remote areas or regions. They were commissioned to only enforce traffic laws. They were eventually deputized as special deputy U.S. marshals to fill this void in jurisdiction. The legislature refused to make them police officers until

2679-455: The state of Alaska pour into Anchorage to cheer their respective local teams on, or to simply take in the basketball action. Previously, before the 2006 basketball season, the frenzied tournament action spanned across as many as three different venues in Anchorage over the course of four days with games played from as early as 8 a.m. AKST to late into the evening (sometimes with the final game of

2736-474: The territorial legislature's first session in 1913 a variety of reforms were undertaken including: allowing women to vote, creating an 8 hour work day and other labor regulations, gave autonomy to some Native Alaskan villages, created a board in the territory for education and regulated mining conditions. The territory did give some Native Alaskans the right to vote in 1915 under the condition that they "gave up tribal customs and traditions." Alaska did not ratify

2793-473: The time, to decline. Wages were dropped and the workforce decreased by more than half. In the mid 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought Americans from agricultural areas could be transferred to Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley for a fresh chance at agricultural self-sustainment. Colonists were largely from northern states in the Upper Midwest , such as Michigan , Wisconsin , and Minnesota under

2850-651: The tournament was moved into the Alaska Airlines Center, which is located on the campus of the University of Alaska, Anchorage. The ASAA sanctions high school football at the Division I, Division II and Division III levels. Each year Alaska holds the first high school game in the nation, held usually around mid-August during summer vacation. Because of this, and the relatively short eight-game season, ASAA state championship football games are played earlier than elsewhere as well, with tournament games taking place in mid-to-late October. The championship games are entitled

2907-447: The world that we 'support self-government and actually believe in freedom put into practice.'". Representative Barratt O'Hara attacked the opposition's fear of the act, stating "During my life-time, 10 states have been admitted to the Union and each time opponents raised the arguments of fear and distrust that we have heard in this debate." Representative W. Smith would rebut "All of those 10 states together were granted less than one-third

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2964-412: Was about 58,000. James Wickersham , a Delegate to Congress, introduced Alaska's first statehood bill, but it failed for lack of interest from Alaskans. Even President Warren G. Harding 's unprecedented visit in 1923 (just days before his death) could not create widespread interest in statehood. Under the conditions of the Second Organic Act, Alaska had been split into four divisions. The most populous of

3021-542: Was appointed for a term lasting four years having the power to veto any bill but could be overridden by a 2/3rd vote in the legislature. The Alaska Territory did not have a territorial judiciary system and all matters were taken care of by federal courts. Alaska's territorial capitol had been in Sitka until 1906, when it was moved north to Juneau . Construction of the Alaska Governor's Mansion began that same year. Prior to

3078-521: Was high. On the first question, "Shall Alaska immediately be admitted into the Union as a state?", the result was 40,452 in favor, and 8,010 against. In the late 1950s civil rights bills were being introduced in Congress. To overcome the Southern Democrats' suppression of the pro-Republican African-American vote, then-Republican Hawaii's prospects for statehood were tied to Alaska's, which many thought would be more Democratic. Hawaii statehood

3135-496: Was immediately shot down by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. Republicans feared that Alaska would be unable to raise enough taxes due to its small population and end up as a welfare state while Southern Democrats feared more pro-civil rights congressmen. In retaliation, Gruening established the "Alaska Statehood Committee" in 1949. He encouraged journalists, newspaper editors, politicians, and members of national and labor organizations to help use their positions and power to make

3192-574: Was one of Alaska's territorial delegates to Congress from 1944 to 1958 when he became a U.S. senator representing Alaska, would become one of Groening's most important allies in supporting the cause for Alaskan statehood. Alaska's desire for statehood was much aided by the amount of attention it received during World War II. After Japan initiated the Aleutian Islands Campaign in June 1942, the territory became an important strategic military base and

3249-686: Was written up and Alaskans voted and passed the Alaska Constitution in 1956 with overwhelming approval. The Constitution was named "one of the best, if not the best, state constitutions ever written" by the National Municipal League . Another step forward for the cause was taken by the Alaskan adoption of the "Tennessee Plan" which allowed them to elect their delegates to Congress without having to wait for an official act from Congress. Alaskans therefore elected to Congress Senators Ernest Gruening and William A. Egan and Representative to

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