Who was William Henry Seward?
Q: Who was William Henry Seward?
A: William Henry Seward was an American politician who served as the 12th Governor of New York, a United States Senator, and the United States Secretary of State for two presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.
Q: What was Seward's stance on slavery?
A: Seward was very much against slavery.
Q: Did Seward run for President of the United States?
A: Many people thought Seward would be nominated by the Republican Party to run for President of the United States in 1860, but that did not happen.
Q: What happened to Seward on the night of Lincoln's assassination?
A: On the night that President Abraham Lincoln was killed, someone also tried to kill Seward. For the rest of his life, Seward had scars on his face from the attack.
Q: What was "Seward's Folly"?
A: When Seward was Secretary of State, he arranged for the United States to buy Alaska from Russia. People made fun of him for doing that. They called it "Seward's Folly".
Q: What did Seward say was the most important thing he did as Secretary of State?
A: When asked what he thought was the most important thing he did as Secretary of State, Seward said "The purchase of Alaska—but it will take the people a generation to find it out".
Q: Was Seward's purchase of Alaska later considered a good decision?
A: Yes, Seward's purchase of Alaska later turned out to be considered a good decision.
