Editing Askja (section)

== Social context of 1875 Askja eruption ==
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The eruption took place at a time that Iceland was newly self governing under Danish rule, with a strong nationalist element, had a large rural agricultural population, and needed the fodder ruined by the eruption to overwinter livestock, in an up to then, relatively prosperous farming area. Following local publicity of the plight of farming communities in May 1775, and a letter to [[The Times]] in July 1775, fund-raising efforts in the UK, Denmark, and Norway took place and relief supplies were organised. The combined donations helped many of the most affected and paid for fodder to help keep livestock alive over the winter of 1875/6. The emigration options were limited, as the possibility of organised self funded emigration from Iceland to Canada or Brazil only became possible in January 1873, and by the time of the eruption the experiences reported home of the emigrants were far from all being positive. Canada in particular successfully promoted itself and addressed partially the initial issues, with partially subsidised emigration that excluded deliberately the Icelandic poor, for multiple reasons both commercial and social. However the Iceland nationalist political movement tried to block emigration, even misrepresenting that its new Emigration Law made the Canadian plan impossible, when the law had yet to be ratified in Denmark. A deposit paid to the Danish Governor of Iceland and advertising emphasising the impact of the eruption eased the Canadian plan. While most emigration in 1876 was by Icelanders resident outside the areas most affected by the ash it did result in up to 10% of the population in those districts most affected, leaving Iceland.<ref name=Büntgen2024/>