AH Challenge: Alaska a Majority-Minority State

MrP

Banned
(I'm putting this here because I assume a pre-1900 POD is easier, but the later the better--your call).

Alaska and Hawaii were the last two states admitted into the Union. I'd like to see how it would be possible to make the former's demographics similar to the latter in terms of Whites being a minority.

In the case of Hawaii, the place remained exempt from restrictions on Asian immigration thanks to its status as a territory, for the benefit of the local agricultural elite which relied on cheap Asian labour. Could something similar happen with Alaska, for example on the occasion of its gold rushes?
 
(I'm putting this here because I assume a pre-1900 POD is easier, but the later the better--your call).

Alaska and Hawaii were the last two states admitted into the Union. I'd like to see how it would be possible to make the former's demographics similar to the latter in terms of Whites being a minority.

In the case of Hawaii, the place remained exempt from restrictions on Asian immigration thanks to its status as a territory, for the benefit of the local agricultural elite which relied on cheap Asian labour. Could something similar happen with Alaska, for example on the occasion of its gold rushes?

Well, apparently Alaska is only 2/3 White today, so it certainly ought to be doable. Especially if mixed race people count separately.

Slow immigration from the Mainland (probably the most likely way to do it), get a few more East Asians (Japanese fishermen or what have you), raise the native population a bit...
 
Alaska being majority-minority is doable. Maybe when Alaska was a Russian colony, have them import Siberian natives that the Russians considered troublesome or encourage the Tatars to come over. Maybe after Alaska exchanged hands, Japanese or Manchurians come to the warmer parts for farming,fishing or whatever. It's going to be harder after Yellow Peril hysteria starts up and definitely difficult when gold is discovered. Another idea is have a mass migration of the Metis after the Red River Rebellion/North-West Rebellion.There are ways to do it.
 

MrP

Banned
It's going to be harder after Yellow Peril hysteria starts up and definitely difficult when gold is discovered.
Could the gold be discovered earlier, say before the 1870s? I assume that at such an early date, it would be easier to bring workers from Asia rather than the US mainland.
 
You could have blacks move there as well; perhaps a religious calling, or using poor blacks as railroad workers etc?
 
You could have blacks move there as well; perhaps a religious calling, or using poor blacks as railroad workers etc?

??? How, why?
Why would blacks, rather than whites, find a calling to Alaska, of all places?

And, what railroads?


OTOH, newly freed blacks could be shipped north (instead of Liberia).
 
A lot of blacks moved out west in the 1800's and for much the same reasons as many whites. It was a fresh start, free from (most) old prejudices. There were black cowboys,mountain men,soldiers and miners despite what Hollywood would have you believe. If you'd want more blacks to move to Alaska, then target them in sales pitches, tout Alaska as a Land of Opportunity that's relatively colorblind.
 

jahenders

Banned
You could have the government incentivize homesteading in Alaska, giving more land than elsewhere and holding out the possibility of gold. The program could be targeted specifically at blacks, and perhaps asians.

A lot of blacks moved out west in the 1800's and for much the same reasons as many whites. It was a fresh start, free from (most) old prejudices. There were black cowboys,mountain men,soldiers and miners despite what Hollywood would have you believe. If you'd want more blacks to move to Alaska, then target them in sales pitches, tout Alaska as a Land of Opportunity that's relatively colorblind.
 
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