<P> Statehood for Alaska was an important cause of James Wickersham early in his tenure as a congressional delegate . Decades later , the statehood movement gained its first real momentum following a territorial referendum in 1946 . The Alaska Statehood Committee and Alaska 's Constitutional Convention would soon follow . Statehood supporters also found themselves fighting major battles against political foes , mostly in the U.S. Congress but also within Alaska . Statehood was approved by Congress on July 7 , 1958 . Alaska was officially proclaimed a state on January 3 , 1959 . </P>
<P> Statehood for Alaska was an important cause of James Wickersham early in his tenure as a congressional delegate . Decades later , the statehood movement gained its first real momentum following a territorial referendum in 1946 . The Alaska Statehood Committee and Alaska 's Constitutional Convention would soon follow . Statehood supporters also found themselves fighting major battles against political foes , mostly in the U.S. Congress but also within Alaska . Statehood was approved by Congress on July 7 , 1958 . Alaska was officially proclaimed a state on January 3 , 1959 . </P>
when did alaska become part of the united states of america
when did alaska become part of the united states of america
January 3 , 1959
January 3 , 1959