President Lincoln is enshrined not only in the Lincoln Memorial, but also in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In his youth, America’s 16th president was a lean, mean, wrestling machine, who fought in anywhere from dozens to more than 300 bouts, and lost only once. Below are twenty three things about that and other ...

by Amy Mek, RAIR Foundation: Imam Tom Facchine is spearheading a calculated campaign to radicalize young Muslims across the West, using his Wahhabi-inspired teachings and influence within extremist groups to dismantle Western institutions and impose Sharia, while the media and left-wing establishment remain disturbingly silent, enabling his dangerous mission. TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/ U.S. Imam […]

This article was original published in Shelterforce. Rest. Heal. Recover. To people with serious illnesses and injuries who are also experiencing homelessness, those three words seem impossible to achieve. How can one rest when lying on a blanket in public is considered a quality-of-life infraction? Where can one heal or recover when medicine and other personal belongings could be thrown away without a moment’s notice? Over the last decade, medical respite care programs have been bridging the gap between housing and health care for people experiencing homelessness. These programs provide private space for unhoused folks who are too ill to recover from an illness or injury on the streets, but do not require hospital-level treatment. Since 2012, medical respite programs have more than tripled in the US, from 43 to more than 145 as of May 2023, according to the National Institute for Medical Respite Care (NIMRC). These programs — typically offered in freestanding facilities, homeless shelters and even motels — exist in 40 states, spanning Washington to Maine and as far south as Georgia and Florida. Unhoused folks who require care can be referred to RecoveryWorks, and they can stay in a medical respite bed for up to 30 days. Courtesy of RecoveryWorks Medical respite programs could play a key role in closing the health care to homelessness pipeline, says Devora Keller, the director of clinical quality improvement at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. This pipeline refers to situations when an unhoused individual is discharged from a hospital back to the streets after receiving care, instead of being sent to a shelter or supportive housing unit. Hospitals have done a lot of work to address gaps in discharge policies that allow people to leave their care without a place to live, Keller says. This means that some hospitals now require that a person experiencing homelessness be discharged to a living facility. But there aren’t enough shelters that can provide resources for people who need additional help treating an illness or injury. “We live in a country where not everyone believes that access to health care is a human right; not everyone believes that access to housing is a human right; not everyone believes that housing is health care. And I think that those three things are linked together and are some of the important ingredients to have when closing the hospital to homelessness pipeline,” Keller says. Despite the significant need for medical respite programs across the country, their future growth faces significant barriers. There is a lack of dedicated funding sources for these programs in many states, which can hinder the ability of service providers to expand into medical respite care. On top of that, there are gaps between health care and housing systems that often allow homeless people with injuries and illnesses to slip through the cracks. How medical respite programs work In the US, the first medical respite care programs were established in the 1980s, according to NIMRC, but most of the model’s growth occurred after 2011, when uniform standards for this type of care were established. The programs vary widely in size, scope, and funding structure. NIMRC found that medical respite shelters have a median bed capacity of 16 — although at least one has a capacity of as many as 200-plus beds — and most limit their guests’ stay to 45 days. These programs offer short-term medical care, and they often provide guests daily meals, transportation to medical appointments and access to a phone. More than half of medical respite programs receive funding from hospitals, which over the years have faced a staggering increase in uncompensated care. Since 2000, hospitals have provided about $745 billion in health care that has not been paid for by a patient or insurance provider, according to the American Hospital Association. People experiencing homelessness who seek treatment without Medicaid or Medicare coverage usually fall into this bucket. Funding for medical respite programs also comes from a mixture of state governments, foundations and private donors. Crushed by negative news? Sign up for the Reasons to be Cheerful newsletter. [contact-form-7] On a broad level, these programs address some basic issues that people experiencing homelessness face, says Caitlin Synovec, NIMRC’s assistant director. For example, they give people with injuries and illnesses a private place to be treated outside a doctor’s office or hospital. They also provide a safe place to store medicines that need refrigeration, like insulin and Amoxicillin. “Even if someone who’s experiencing homelessness is staying in a congregate shelter, or even a semi-congregate shelter, a lot of those resources aren’t available to them because there are limitations,” Synovec says. Some medical respite care programs connect unhoused people with primary care physicians, and others provide a pathway out of homelessness through rapid rehousing programs. RecoveryWorks, a nonprofit in Lakewood, Colorado, does it all. The first-of-its-kind shelter in Jefferson County offers case management, year-round shelter and rehousing options, and medical respite services. A RecoveryWorks respite manager and a guest. Courtesy of RecoveryWorks James Ginsburg, RecoveryWorks’ executive director, says local homeless service providers routinely encounter people with frostbite, gangrene or open wounds. Those who receive treatment from a doctor and require additional care can be referred to RecoveryWorks, where they can stay in a medical respite bed for up to 30 days, though Ginsburg says he has extended the welcome for people with long treatment courses. RecoveryWorks has 11 respite beds and serves between 50 and 60 people annually with medical respite care, Ginsburg added. RecoveryWorks also has a primary care services program that connects unhoused people to primary care doctors. It partnered with STRIDE Community Health Center, a nonprofit headquartered in nearby Wheat Ridge, to provide primary care services for unhoused people. Ginsburg says the relationship with a primary care physician is often overlooked by people who are forced to live on the streets. “Primary care is a critical component of the full recovery from homelessness,” Ginsburg says. “If you have chronic and acute care issues that are being untreated, it just makes getting housed and staying housed that much more difficult. So, this is sort of an unknown gap in the system.” RecoveryWorks has been expanding its capacity with the recent purchase of a 34-unit motel and construction of a 700-bed shelter. “We’re really trying to collaborate with the current service providers in Jefferson County but also build out a more robust rehousing infrastructure,” Ginsburg says. Barriers to scale Despite the growth of medical respite programs in the US, several barriers prevent the model from becoming widely established. For instance, there is no dedicated funding source for these programs, either at the federal or state level. Any local funding that exists must usually be squeezed out of a different funding priority, like health care or homeless services, Ginsburg says. This means that facilities like RecoveryWorks must apply for funding in each budget cycle. In Colorado, respite care providers must fill out a special Home and Community-Based Service waiver for their services to be reimbursable under the state’s Medicaid program. These waivers can be used to cover adult and child care programs. However, they must be renewed with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services every five years, according to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which could disrupt the funding for some caregivers. Without that reimbursement, medical respite care becomes an out-of-pocket cost for service providers. Become a sustaining member today! Join the Reasons to be Cheerful community by supporting our nonprofit publication and giving what you can. Join According to NIMRC’s database, RecoveryWorks is one of 46 nationwide programs that receive state funding. NIMRC’s Synovec says funding for medical respite programs is much more difficult in states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs. That’s one reason why states like Wyoming and Kansas do not have any such programs. Housing subsidies like housing choice vouchers also do not consider an individual’s health status, which can result in people with serious injuries and illnesses being placed in inappropriate housing units. Keller of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council says she hopes there will be greater advocacy for states to add an individual’s health status to the housing needs assessment process. “It highlights the perverse way in which our system prioritizes people for housing and does not integrate health needs into the assessments of individuals.” The post A Place to Recover: How Medical Respite Programs Help Unhoused People Heal appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

  Abraham Lincoln represents a critical part of American history. He was a great reformer who guided the United States through an immensely difficult period. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation, ended slavery, and preserved the Union, defeating the Confederates in the process.   It is no secret that his presidency was a difficult one and won him many enemies, one of whom would end up assassinating him.   Abraham Lincoln’s life wasn’t just limited to his presidency, however. His was a life full of turmoil and struggle. The road that led him to the White House was a long one that started in a small log cabin in rural Kentucky.   Early Life A sketch of the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born. Source: Ellsworth D. Foster ed. The American Educator (vol. 5) (Chicago, IL: Ralph Durham Company, 1921). Florida Center for Instructional Technology   Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 into a family of modest means in a log cabin in rural Hardin County, Kentucky. He was the second of three children born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. He had an older sister, Sarah, and a younger brother, Thomas, who died in infancy. Nancy Hanks was described as fervently religious. The family was from  Separate Baptist culture, which forbade alcohol, dancing, and, importantly for Abraham Lincoln, slavery.   Abraham’s father worked hard but fell into financial difficulties. His career as a farmer was severely impacted when he lost 200 acres of land due to title disputes. He was also a talented carpenter, and he plied his trade in Kentucky and afterwards when they moved to Indiana, a territory where slavery had been outlawed.   Their first years in Indiana were harsh. They had to seek temporary shelter during their first winter, after which they built a log cabin and started farming. Abraham helped his father in the fields, but it is notable that he did not enjoy hunting or fishing.   They eventually settled in a wild region of the frontier where Lincoln recounted in his memoirs that many wild animals lived there, including bears. He did not have access to urban education, but he still learned to read and write.   A Self-Made Man Log cabin built by Abraham Lincoln and his father in Goose Nest Prairie, Illinois, in 1831. Source: Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth   Abraham’s education was largely due to his own desire to learn, and he was largely self-taught, although he occasionally had the help of itinerant teachers. He was an ambitious child, and his ambition would continue throughout his life. He dedicated his whole life to the pursuit of learning.   Learning how to read must have been a challenge for young Abraham, as his parents would have certainly been almost illiterate. How he did it remains a mystery to this day.   On October 5, 1818, Abraham’s mother died of milk sickness. Abraham was nine at the time, and Sarah was eleven. A few months later, his father married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow from Kentucky. She was a compassionate woman and comforted the young Abraham through his grief. As a result, Abraham had a great deal of affection for her.   Abraham grew into a tall, strong, and athletic young man. By the age of 21, he was six feet, four inches. He became skilled in using an ax, but his stepmother recounted that Abraham did not enjoy physical labor.   Nevertheless, he enjoyed sports and became an avid wrestler in his youth. At the age of 21, he became the country wrestling champion.   Odd Jobs A historical marker relating to the Black Hawk War. Source: Jennifer Talkington/Utah Historical Markers   In 1830, Abraham moved with his family to Illinois. This was partly due to the fear of a milk sickness outbreak. At the time, it was thought that the illness was infectious, as it was not yet understood that it was caused by drinking milk from cows that had eaten white snakeroot.   Abraham helped build his father’s farm, but he had no intention of becoming a farmer. He worked as a flatboatman and sailed all the way down to Mississippi before returning to Illinois. Upon his return, he worked as a postman and a surveyor. He settled in New Salem, a town with around 25 families.   The outbreak of hostilities with the Native Americans in the region would put his life on a different path. During his time in Illinois, he was well-liked in New Salem and won the friendship and goodwill of many of his neighbors.   When the Black Hawk War broke out, local volunteers elected him to be their leader. Although Abraham saw no action during this conflict, his leadership position saw him connect with people in the political realm. Thus, his attention was turned towards a career in politics.   Abraham Lincoln. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Before he ran for any office, however, Lincoln opened a general store with a friend, William Berry. After obtaining a liquor license, the store was converted into a tavern. Lincoln was forced to run the place by himself, as Berry became an alcoholic and was often unable to work. Despite the fact that business was good, the tavern went into debt, and Lincoln was forced to sell his share.   In the early 1830s, Lincoln was said to have been romantically involved with a woman named Ann Rutledge until her death at the age of 22 in 1835. Evidence for this courtship is scarce, however. Following this tragedy, Lincoln spent several years courting a woman named Mary Owens, who rejected his marriage proposal.   Lincoln the Politician 34-star flag. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Lincoln’s first foray into politics did not result in anything special. He ran for the Illinois House of Representatives but finished 8th out of 13 candidates. Many discovered, however, that he was a skilled raconteur.   In 1834, he achieved success, running as a Whig Party candidate, and began his four terms representing Sangamon County in the Illinois House of Representatives. He championed the expansion of suffrage to all white males, which was at the time restricted to landowners. He also was opposed to slavery but was not yet a complete abolitionist. In this, he was also influenced by the anti-slavery stance of his Whig Party heroes, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster.   His first few years in his new position also gave him the opportunity to help expand the transport infrastructure of Illinois. Lincoln stressed this over agricultural issues.   During this time, he also studied law and was admitted to the bar on September 9, 1836. He was just 25 years old at the time. Soon thereafter, he moved to Springfield, Illinois. This was the state capital, and it represented far more opportunities for a young lawyer and politician looking to make a name for himself.   Love & Marriage Photograph of Mary Todd taken around 1846/1847. Source: Library of Congress   In 1839, Lincoln met Mary Todd, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer and businessman from Kentucky. The two fell in love and courted for several years before finally getting married on November 4, 1842. The two would continue to have a long and happy marriage from which four children would be born.   Sadly, however, three of the children would not live till adulthood. Edward died in infancy, and William Wallace contracted typhus and died at the age of 11. Thomas “Tad” Lincoln survived his father but died at the age of 18 in 1871. The cause of his death is unknown, but it was likely due to an underlying health issue related to the lungs or the heart.   The eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was born in 1843 and lived a long and successful life. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became a lawyer and a politician. He died in 1926 at the age of 82.   Lincoln attended Presbyterian church services with his wife, but he was not overly religious, and he maintained a skepticism towards church practices.   Early Successes & Losses in Politics & Law Abraham Lincoln as a young man. Source: Library of Congress   In 1843, Lincoln also sought the nomination for Illinois’ 7th district in the US House of Representatives. He lost the election but succeeded three years later. During his short stint in office, the Mexican-American War raged, and Lincoln became an outspoken critic of this conflict. He viewed it as President James Polk’s quest for military glory. Lincoln served a single term in office from 1847 to 1849.   In 1848, after Zachary Taylor won the election, Lincoln had hoped to be offered a better position, but he was only offered the governorship of the Oregon Territory. Lincoln found this unsatisfactory, and he resigned his post and returned to Illinois, where he continued practicing law.   Honest Abe, a book by Brian Thornton. Source: Simon & Schuster   As a lawyer, Lincoln became immensely successful in representing large firms and banks. When tensions rose due to the increasing divide between the southern states and the northern states over the issue of slavery, Lincoln felt compelled not just by his own principles but by the insistence of his peers to get back into politics. During his time as a lawyer, he had gained a reputation of high moral standing. He was also seen as shrewd and, above all, honest—the latter being a common adjective used to describe the man, “Honest Abe.”   Enslaved people of American general and politician Thomas F. Drayton, South Carolina, 1862 (during the Civil War). By Henry P. Moore (1835-1911). Source: Public Domain/Store Norske Leksikon   The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was a particular target for Lincoln. The act allowed each state to decide its own status over whether to allow slavery. This incensed Lincoln, who saw it as a path to increased slavery.   As the Whig Party faded away, Lincoln joined the burgeoning Republican Party and challenged incumbent Stephen A. Douglas in a senatorial race. Although he lost, Lincoln gained widespread recognition and support for his stance against slavery. His fame and influence continued to spread, and in May 1860, he was selected to be the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.   The Presidential Election of 1860: Lincoln Wins The Electoral College votes in the 1860 presidential election. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In November, the presidential elections took place, and once again, Lincoln ran against Stephen Douglas, who was one of the two candidates representing the Democratic Party. Lincoln won the election and became the 16th president of the United States.   This was partly due to the massive split that had occurred in the Democratic Party. The Northern Democrats, represented by Stephen Douglas, proposed that each state should decide for itself on the issue of slavery, while the Southern Democrats (also known as the “Dixiecrats”) wanted to retain slavery in all the states. Lincoln received 40 percent of the vote, Douglas received 29 percent, and the southern Democrats, represented by John C. Breckinridge, received 18 percent. John C. Bell of the Constitutional Union received 12 percent of the vote. Of the 303 Electoral College votes, Lincoln received 180 and won the election convincingly.   Emancipation created by J.L. Magee. Source: Library of Congress   As a president, Abraham Lincoln would leave his biggest legacy on the American nation. His dedication to his belief in abolishing slavery would lead the country to a great reckoning as the states that disagreed with his policies were prepared to wage the bloodiest chapter in American history.   Throughout it all, Lincoln would stand defiant, a pillar of strength that encapsulated the man he was in his youth—ambitious, steadfast, and unassailable—a true inspiration to the American people as much then as he still is now.

  A spectacular land of black beaches, volcanoes, and hot springs, Iceland is a country like no other. However, its wild and rugged features are not the only things that make it such a fascinating place.   It is a place rich in culture, replete with myth and legend from elves to gods. Unique traditions, interesting cuisine, and alien landscapes make Iceland a place of stark contrasts and hardy people who make their home on an enthralling island known as the “Land of Fire and Ice.”   This is Iceland’s history, from intrepid sailors to the Cod Wars and beyond.   Who Discovered Iceland? Map of Iceland by Abraham Ortelius, c. 1590. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Located in the icy cold regions in the extreme north of the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is not a place where one would expect to find many explorers. Its discovery, however, is a source of academic debate.   The Greek explorer Pytheas went on a voyage of discovery around 325 BCE. He described how six days’ travel north of the island of Britain brought him to a land near a frozen sea. He named this land Thule and described it as a place of midnight sun. Pytheas’ works, however, did not survive, and what we know comes from excerpts quoted and paraphrased by later authors. There is also no way of knowing if the island Pytheas referred to was indeed Iceland or perhaps one of the other islands in the North Sea, such as one of the Faroe Islands.   Ice floes and aurora Borealis. Source: Creative Commons 2.0 Moyan Brenn/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons   According to Landnámabók (“Book of Settlements”), a medieval record from the 12th century, Iceland was inhabited by a settlement of Irish monks prior to Norse settlement. The same book mentions that the first Norseman to discover Iceland was Naddodd, a Faroese settler who got lost and found himself along the east coast of Iceland.   A Swedish Viking by the name of Garðar Svavarsson, along with his group of sailors, would also discover Iceland by accident. He stayed on the island for a winter before returning home.   The first mention of a Norseman deliberately sailing to Iceland was that of Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson, another Viking of Swedish descent. He spent some time there and found the island abundant in resources when the winter passed. He returned to Norway and informed others of his discovery.   Norse Settlement Ingolf Takes Possession of Iceland by Johan Peter Raadsig, 1850. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Landnámabók states that the first permanent settler was Ingólfr Arnarson, who arrived on the island in 874 and began the settlement of Reykjavík with his wife, Hallveig Fródadóttir. Soon after, a group of 400 settlers arrived, mainly from Norway, to make their homes in Iceland.   Those who chose to leave their homes in Norway included farmers and chieftains who were dissatisfied with the growing power of King Harald I (Harald Fairhair), who was busy unifying Norway and bringing petty kingdoms under his control.   Archaeological and geological evidence confirms the date of the first settlement to around the 870s.   Although this story is the generally accepted version of events, it is also possible that the first settler was a man named Náttfari, a member of Garðar Svavarsson’s crew who chose to stay behind.   The Íslendingabók (“Book of Icelanders”), written by 12th-century Icelandic priest Ari Þorgilsson, states that the monks who lived on the island left their settlement due to their dislike for heathens. It is, however, also plausible that these monks were driven out by force.   Adoption of Christianity Reconstructed Viking settlement in Hrofn, Iceland. Source: Creative Commons via World History Encyclopedia   As the settlement grew, legal and administrative functions were required. The Althing was created in 930 and still exists today as the world’s oldest parliament. Despite having its own laws and essentially being an independent polity, Iceland was under the jurisdiction of Norway. At the end of the 10th century, King Olaf I Tryggvason (963-1000) ensured Iceland’s adoption of Christianity by sending missionaries to convert the Icelanders.   However, small groups of Christians had existed beforehand and grew in number. In 961, Eldgjá volcano erupted, blanketing the sun and releasing huge amounts of sulfuric gases into the atmosphere. Evidence of its eruption can be found as far away as China. Being close to the epicenter, many Icelanders took the events as a sign from God to convert to Christianity.   Initially, attempts at Christianization encountered difficulty, but many Icelanders were dependent on Norway as their main trading partner, and adopting Christianity ensured peace between Norway and Iceland.   The Christian religion became the recognized religion of Iceland by legal decree from the Althing around 1000 CE. This came after the collective priesthood (goðar) of the Norse Asatru religion gathered at the Althing to decide the case for Christianity. Their speaker, Thorgeir Thorkelsson, a pagan, declared that all Icelanders had to be baptized but that those who worshiped the Norse gods could do so as long as it was in secret.   This compromise managed to suppress any leanings toward religious conflict, and the people prospered while settlements continued to grow.   An Era of Prosperity Birch trees in Iceland. Source: Pétur Halldórsson/Skógræktin (Icelandic Forest Service)   Modern scholars think Iceland’s early settlements were relatively successful. Sheep and cattle adjusted well to the climate and thrived in this new land. However, certain resources were difficult to obtain. The land was not very suitable for agriculture, and grains and copious amounts of timber had to be imported.   While Iceland supported forests of birch trees, this resource was not plentiful enough for the needs of the growing settlements.   Across the ocean, Norway was able to supply Iceland with all its needs while Iceland offered goods such as wool and homespun cloth in return.   Conflict Snorri Sturluson by Haukur Stefánsson, 1933. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In the 13th century, an era of peace gave way to an era of conflict. Many people in Iceland were split over allegiances. Some wished to remain in commonwealth union with Norway, but others wanted Iceland to become a subject to Norway.   Icelandic chieftains took sides, and by the 1220s, decades of skirmishes would begin to decide the island’s future. This period is known as the Age of the Sturlungs, named after the Sturlung clan, a vassal of the Norwegian king, Haakon IV. Snorri Sturluson, the famed historian, poet, and politician responsible for much of what we know about early Icelandic history, was also born into the Sturlung clan.   Map of the Kalmar Union, c. 1400. Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica   In 1238, the conflict culminated in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir, the largest battle ever fought on Icelandic soil. It is estimated that around 2,700 warriors took part in the battle, and although it ended in defeat for the Sturlung clan, the war was not over.   The conflict continued until 1262, when the supporters of Haakon IV finally achieved victory, and Iceland became a vassal of Norway.   In 1380, Iceland changed hands and became a subject of the Crown of Denmark. Norway became part of the Kalmar Union, with Denmark as the dominant polity.   After the Reformation, and with strong ties to Lutheranism in Denmark, the same practices were pushed in Iceland, and the island was converted.   Shifts in Trading Partners Man Working, Icelandic Women Working by Bayard Taylor, 1862. Source: Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons   Denmark saw little need for Icelandic goods, and times became difficult for the Icelanders. This was in addition to a mini ice age that made growing crops in Iceland even more difficult, and the population suffered as a result.   New trade partners arrived, however, into the commercial vacuum. English fishermen were drawn to the plentiful waters of Iceland and made frequent trips to the north, where they traded with the locals.   From the 16th century, trade with Germans increased rapidly. The Germans would lease fishing boats to the Icelanders, buy the fish, and export them to the rest of Europe. By the middle of the 17th century, Dutch and French traders also became common in Icelandic waters.   In 1602, the Danish government ordered Iceland not to trade with anyone other than Denmark. However, this decree was difficult to enforce, and many Icelanders, as did their trading partners, simply ignored it.   Slave Raids Dutch Ships Engaged With Barbary Corsairs (?) by John Wilson Carmichael, 19th century. Source: CC BY-NC-ND, Lakeland Arts via ArtUk   In the summer of 1627, Barbary pirates descended upon the coasts of Iceland, raiding settlements and abducting people to be sold in the slave markets. Although the raids became known as the “Turkish Abductions,” they had nothing to do with the Turks at all. The name was an umbrella term to describe all Mediterranean Muslims.   Around 400 people were enslaved, and efforts were made to get them back. Ransoms were collected and stolen more than once before any of the slaves were freed. In all, around 50 people were freed from slavery.   The “Mist Hardships” Lava pools on May 31, 2024. Source: Creative Commons/Art Bicnick/icelandreview.com   Throughout the 18th century, climatic conditions in Iceland made life difficult again. The nation underwent many decades of cooling, which had a negative effect on crop production.   So when Lakagígar, a volcanic fissure, started erupting in 1783, the situation went from bad to devastatingly miserable. From June 1783 to February of the following year, the volcano spewed basaltic lava and a considerable amount of tephra. For the Icelanders, this event was a cataclysmic disaster, with toxic clouds that blocked out the sun and poisoned livestock.   Volcanic craters along Lakagígar. Source: Creative Commons 3.0 Anne Schöpa/imaggeo   To make matters even worse, 1784 saw a series of earthquakes that ruined many farms.   The Icelanders starved, and the Crown considered the cost of evacuating these people to Denmark too high to be worth it. In all, the Móðuharðindi (Mist Hardship) claimed the lives of around twenty to twenty-five percent of the Icelandic population, with some sources specifying a total of around 9,000 people.   Independence & Occupation The Parliament House of Iceland built in 1880-81. Source: Bragi Þór Jósefsson via althingi.is   In the 19th century, a strong independence movement arose in Iceland and, step-by-step, the island was granted autonomy in a process that spanned over a century. With the vassalage to the crown of Denmark, the Althing had been reduced to a court of law and was eventually disbanded in 1800.   Following pressure for more autonomy, however, the Althing was reconstituted in 1845 as a consultative body to the crown, and a constitution was adopted in 1874, which granted the Althing joint legislative power with the Crown. The first years of autonomy weren’t easy. Iceland was suffering from a demographic shift as many people were emigrating, mainly to Canada and the United States. Another volcanic eruption in 1875 brought on more hardships as farmers struggled.   Nevertheless, the Icelandic people endured and survived into the 20th century. In 1918, Iceland was granted sovereignty in personal union with Denmark.   American troops in Iceland, 1943. Source: Wikimedia Commons   At the outbreak of the Second World War, Iceland remained neutral, and the British feared the Germans would exploit this and use Iceland as a base of operations in the North Atlantic. To prevent this, the British invaded Iceland, took control of it militarily, and transferred control to the United States. There was no fighting, and the only death was that of a British Marine who committed suicide en route.   The British had barely been trained, and the journey resulted in such harsh conditions that many of the men became violently ill. Nevertheless, the Icelanders did not put up a fight, and although many protested, there was generally an air of cooperation.   Despite the occupation in 1941, Iceland requested full independence from Denmark, which was granted. On June 17, 1944, Iceland became a fully independent republic.   Cold War & Cod War A British frigate being harassed by the Icelandic gunboat Thor. Source: Hull Maritime Museum via Yorkshire Evening Post   With the emergence of the Cold War, Iceland became a strategic asset for NATO. Iceland had helped form NATO, and the United States kept a military presence at Keflavík Air Base.   From the 1950s to the 1970s, a different kind of war was taking shape. Iceland’s need to expand its fishing industry led to diplomatic conflict with Britain over control of the oceans. A series of disputes led to life-threatening situations where fishing boats were escorted by military vessels. Boats were rammed, and in 1973, an Icelandic teenager lost his life as a result of his patrol boat being rammed by the HMS Apollo, a Royal Navy frigate.   Eventually, the British relented in 1976 and allowed Iceland to expand its territorial waters.   Iceland in the 21st Century Eruptions by the Eyjafjallajökull glacier from the town of Hvolsvöllur. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Events in Iceland continued to catapult the country into international headlines. In 2008, three banks collapsed after a culmination of events, starting with the deregulation of banks in 2001. The event has been described as the largest bank collapse in history. It exists as a cautionary tale against unfettered and unregulated banking in an event that also wiped out 80% of Icelandic stocks.   Reykjavik at night with the spire of Hallgrimskirkja on the right. Source: goodfon.com   Barely had Iceland begun to recover when volcanic events began around Eyjafjallajökull glacier in 2010. From March to June, ash spewed into the air, causing major disruptions to air travel over Western Europe. The Icelandic agricultural sector was also hit, but not to the same degree as volcanic eruptions had done before.   Despite these challenges, Iceland has managed to survive and thrive in the modern world.   Flag of Iceland. Source: goodfon.com   Iceland is a country of rugged beauty with spectacularly dangerous landscapes. Nature has provided for the people of Iceland but also provided massive challenges. The people of Iceland have endured and built a unique society that is prosperous and dynamic, able to adapt to the harsh difficulties that nature and circumstance throw at it.

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