Another nickname newspapers used for the Alaska purchase was which of the following?

• A. Sewards Folly
• B. Sewards Icebox
• C. Polar Bear Garden
• D. Frozen Deal

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how the press framed a distant, cold new territory to the public. Newspapers often used playful or skeptical nicknames to express their views about new acquisitions, and Seward’s Icebox directly taps into Alaska’s frigid climate and vast, untapped potential.

Seward’s Icebox fits as the best answer because it literally and humorously portrays Alaska as a giant cold storage space, tying the land to its icy environment while still acknowledging Seward’s role in the purchase. It reflects how readers perceived Alaska at the time—more about climate and curiosity than immediate value—yet it’s a nickname that circulated in coverage of the deal.

For context, the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 was controversial, with some calling it folly. That skepticism is captured in other famous phrases like Seward’s Folly, but the option here represents the “icebox” angle that newspapers also used. The other choices aren’t recognized historical nicknames for the Alaska purchase and don’t fit the common press framing.