Final answer:
The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, an amount that does not equate to $5 million, $9 million, or $11 million in today's dollars, disproving the other options provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sale of Russia's North American holdings, often referred to as the purchase of Alaska, was completed in 1867. The United States Congress, influenced by Secretary of State William Seward, approved the acquisition of Alaska from Russia for a sum of $7.2 million, which today is not the equivalent of either $5 million, $9 million, or $11 million. This historic transaction provided the United States with valuable resources such as fish, furs, and eventually led to the discovery of gold, which justified the purchase despite initial criticism and skepticism from several newspaper editors who dubbed the deal "Seward's Folly."