20th Century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1915 | Universal suffrage. | |
| 1916 | The political parties Social Democratic Party and Progressive Party are founded. | |
| 1918 | 1 December | Iceland becomes a sovereign, independent nation. The Danish King remains head of state. |
| 1922 | Jarðræktarlögin. | |
| 1929 | The Icelandic Independence Party is founded. | |
| 1930 | 20 December | The Icelandic Communist Party is founded. The Icelandic State Radio begins broadcasting. |
| 1939 | Following the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany, a national emergency government is formed under Sveinn Björnsson. | |
| 1940 | 10 May | The British invade, violating Icelandic neutrality. |
| 1941 | 7 July | The United States Army, still officially neutral, replaces the British occupation force. |
| 1944 | 17 June | Iceland becomes an independent republic, severing the last political ties to Denmark. Sveinn Björnsson becomes president. |
| 1946 | The Keflavik Agreement. | |
| 1948 | Iceland receives Marshall Aid from the United States. | |
| 1949 | 30 March | Riots break out on Austurvöllur. |
| 4 April | Iceland joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. | |
| 1951 | The United States Army establishes a base in Keflavík. | |
| 1952 | 1 August | Fishing limits extended to 4 miles. Ásgeir Ásgeirsson becomes president. |
| 1958 | Fishing limits extended to 12 miles. | |
| 1963 | 14 November | Volcanic eruption forms Surtsey. |
| 1966 | 30 September | The Icelandic State Television begins its first broadcasts. |
| 1968 | 1 August | Kristján Eldjárn becomes president. Collapse in the fishing industry. |
| 1970 | 1 January | Iceland joins the European Free Trade Association. |
| 1972 | Fishing limits extended to 50 miles. | |
| 1973 | 23 January | Volcanic eruption in the Westman Islands. |
| 1975 | Fishing limits extended to 200 miles. | |
| 1980 | 1 August | Vigdís Finnbogadóttir becomes president of Iceland, the first woman in the world to become elected head of state. |
| 1994 | 1 January | Iceland joins the European Economic Area. |
| 1996 | 1 August | Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson becomes president. |
Read more about this topic: Timeline Of Icelandic History
Famous quotes containing the word century:
“Of the best rulers The people only know that they exist; The next best they love and praise The next they fear; And the next they revile. When they do not command the people’s faith, Some will lose faith in them, And then they resort to oaths! But of the best when their task is accomplished, their work done, The people all remark, “We have done it ourselves.””
—Lao-Tzu (6th century B.C.)