What if: United States of America buys Iceland in 1869

Driftless

Donor
Iceland is definitely Scandinavian. It still speaks a recognizable version of Old Norse.
Greenland, well, perhaps not.

Culturally Iceland is truly Scandinavian as you note. Greenland - Back then as now, wasn't the majority of the population Inuit?

Geologically speaking, Iceland is on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so it's in both hemisphere's in that regard.... Greenland would be North America in that light....;)
 
But only two years earlier the U.S. bought Alaska. I'm not sure why Congress would particularly object to Iceland.
There was quite a lot of controversy to Alaska at the time, actually. "Seward's Folly" and whatnot. I could definitely see Greenland and Iceland becoming "Seward's Other Icebox". And all the arguments applied to Alaska - that it was not contiguous with the US, that it was full of unruly natives, that it wasn't economically viable, that it might embroil the US in foreign wars - apply just the same to the 'lands.
 
There was quite a lot of controversy to Alaska at the time, actually. "Seward's Folly" and whatnot. I could definitely see Greenland and Iceland becoming "Seward's Other Icebox". And all the arguments applied to Alaska - that it was not contiguous with the US, that it was full of unruly natives, that it wasn't economically viable, that it might embroil the US in foreign wars - apply just the same to the 'lands.

On that note, I've read that the Alaska Purchase actually wasn't all that controversial at the time, and the idea that it was is a bit of an urban legend. A handful of newspapers opposed it, but a much larger number were in favor.
 
On that note, I've read that the Alaska Purchase actually wasn't all that controversial at the time, and the idea that it was is a bit of an urban legend. A handful of newspapers opposed it, but a much larger number were in favor.

I seem to recall plenty of elites in Congress didn't care for it?
 
I seem to recall plenty of elites in Congress didn't care for it?

Well, with Alaska, you at least can make the arguments that

1. It's part of America.

and:

2. Given the Russo-British tensions, it could become a flashpoint for European powers tussling over North America...unless a neutral third party were to step in and resolve the matter first.

Iceland and Greenland don't really have either of those applying to them.
 
I seem to recall plenty of elites in Congress didn't care for it?

I don't know about all the preliminary debates, but the treaty was ratified in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 37 in favor and 2 opposed.

Well, with Alaska, you at least can make the arguments that

1. It's part of America.

Iceland and Greenland don't really have either of those applying to them.

Greenland is considered to be part of North America. Iceland traditionally isn't, but the distinction is arbitrary; it's closer to Greenland than it is to the mainland of Europe.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Greenland is considered to be part of North America. Iceland traditionally isn't, but the distinction is arbitrary; it's closer to Greenland than it is to the mainland of Europe.
MUH OCEANIC CRUST

(Seriously, there's a continental crust connection to Greenland that's not there with Iceland. So there's no geological claim on Iceland, meaning it's all cultural. Same with Hawai'i.)
Would Congress really allow such a blatantly imperialistic move at this time?

The difference between expansionism (like moving into the territory of native peoples and disposessing them while taking control) and imperialism (the same, but done on a boat) is kind of irritating.
 
Greenland is considered to be part of North America. Iceland traditionally isn't, but the distinction is arbitrary; it's closer to Greenland than it is to the mainland of Europe.
It's not entirely arbitrary: Iceland is closer to continental Europe than it is to continental North America.

MUH OCEANIC CRUST

(Seriously, there's a continental crust connection to Greenland that's not there with Iceland. So there's no geological claim on Iceland, meaning it's all cultural. Same with Hawai'i.)

Iceland sits on the border between the North American and Eurasian crusts.
 
On that note, I've read that the Alaska Purchase actually wasn't all that controversial at the time, and the idea that it was is a bit of an urban legend. A handful of newspapers opposed it, but a much larger number were in favor.
It wasn't universally mocked like some people seem to say today, but it was quite controversial. Even the people in favor of it were in favor on general Manifest Destiny principles and considered it to be a huge worthless chunk of snow.
 
How would the Danish government's increase in money and decrease in fishing territories affect the economic situation in Scandinavia, and people's interest in emigrating?
How would the people of Iceland react to this? Would they consider going back to being their own country?
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Iceland sits on the border between the North American and Eurasian crusts.
Yes, so neither side has a superior geological claim.

It wasn't universally mocked like some people seem to say today, but it was quite controversial. Even the people in favor of it were in favor on general Manifest Destiny principles and considered it to be a huge worthless chunk of snow.

I wonder if that's partly because of the debt the US had from the Civil War, which was huge.
 
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