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The Icelandic independence movement (Icelandic: Sjálfstæðisbarátta Íslendinga) was the collective effort made by Icelanders to achieve self-determination and independence from the Kingdom of Denmark throughout the 19th and early 20th century. Iceland received a constitution and limited home rule in 1874.
Iceland remained part of Denmark, but in keeping with the rise of nationalism around Europe in the nineteenth century, an independence movement emerged. The Althing, which had been suspended in 1799, was restored in 1844, and Iceland gained sovereignty after World War I, becoming the Kingdom of Iceland on 1 December 1918.
Because of the Kalmar Union, Iceland had been under the control of the Crown of Denmark since 1380, [4] although formally it had been a Norwegian possession until 1814. [5] In 1874, one thousand years after the first acknowledged settlement, Denmark granted Iceland home rule. The constitution, written the same year, was revised in 1903 and the ...
A few years later, Iceland became the first country to recognise the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as they broke away from the USSR. Throughout the 1990s, the country expanded its international role and developed a foreign policy orientated towards humanitarian and peacekeeping causes.
Iceland established its own flag, declared its neutrality and asked Denmark to represent on its behalf foreign affairs and defense interests, while maintaining full control of them. Iceland opened its first embassy in 1920. [1] The Act would be up for revision in 1940 and could be revoked three years later if agreement was not reached.
Since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy and ushered in a new era of political instability, Iceland has been governed by multi-party coalitions of various hues. Like many Western countries, Iceland has been buffeted by the rising cost of living and immigration pressures, and voters are taking it out on incumbent governments.
Bobby Fischer moves to Iceland after being granted an Icelandic passport and full citizenship. [37] [38] 2006: 30 September: The United States Army abandons the military base in Keflavík, thus ending a 55-year U.S. military presence in Iceland. [citation needed] 2008: 29 May: A doublet earthquake strikes southern Iceland with a composite ...
What happened in Iceland isn't pretty. A month ago, it was one of Europe's richest countries: clean, efficient, thoroughly civilized, and living well. Then, suddenly, as international markets ...