Greenland's present population are predominantly Inuit descended from the Thule people who migrated from the North American mainland in the 13th century, gradually settling across the island. The Danish claim to the island stems from Norse settlement of southern Greenland which lasted from the 980s till the 15th century. Scholars believe that the earliest known Norse settlements in Greenland originated from Iceland. Scholars believe that Erik the Red founded an early colony in 985. Icelandic control of Greenland is estimated to have lasted until 1261. The Kingdom of Norway later claimed and controlled Greenland singularly from roughly 1261–1319. These Norse settlements vanished during the 14th and early 15th centuries, with the Inuit people being the sole occupants of the island, expanding to the southern and western coasts, and being de facto independent for over 200 years until European colonization resumed. Despite this, a de jure continuing European possession of Greenland was assumed by European powers.
European colonization in the 18th – 20th centuries
European contact with Greenland was not re-established until 1721 with the mission of Hans Egede, which were followed by the Moravian missions. These established enduring colonies and — after failing to find the Norse peoples — attempted to Christianize the Inuit. By this time Norway and Denmark had been unified under Denmark–Norway which considered Greenland part of its territory. This ended on 14 January 1814 after Norway was ceded from Denmark as a result of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. As a result of the Treaty of Kiel, Denmark gained full colonial control of Greenland soon after. From 1814–1953, Greenland was a colony, not independent and not part of Denmark, but directly controlled by the Danish government.
American protectorate and occupation
During the Second World War, Denmark was occupied and controlled by Nazi Germany between 1940 and 1945. As a result, the Danish and US governments signed an agreement to hand over defense and control of Greenland to the United States on 9 April 1941. . The first troops arrived in Greenland on 7 July 1941. The US-built two airports with full-length runways, which as of 2018 still are the main international airports of Greenland; however, they are located far away from any traditional settlement. Greenland was effectively independent during these years and allowed the United States to build bases on its territory, in spite of the Danish pre-war neutrality. After the war the pre-war situation was restored, the US bases remained and Denmark, with Greenland as a part of the Kingdom, joined NATO.
Moves towards independence
In 1953 a new Danish Constitution incorporated Greenland in Denmark, the island thereby gained representation in the Danish Parliament and was recognized as a Danish province known as the County of Greenland. In 1979 the Danish government granted Greenland home rule, with Denmark keeping control of a number of areas including foreign relations, defense, currency matters and the legal system in Greenland. In 2008 Greenland's citizens approved the Greenlandic self-government referendum with a 75% vote in favor of a higher degree of autonomy. Greenland took control of law enforcement, the coast guard, and the legal system. The official language changed from Danish to Greenlandic on 21 June 2009, Greenland national day. The act gives control of foreign relations of Greenland to the island in trade and other areas it is responsible for. Greenland has representatives in Copenhagen, Brussels, Reykjavik, and Washington, D.C. As part of the self-rule law of 2009, Greenland can declare full independence if they wish to pursue it, but it would have to be approved by a referendum among the Greenlandic people. A poll in 2016 showed that there was a clear majority for full independence among the Greenlandic people, but a poll in 2017 showed that there was a clear opposition if it meant a fall in living standards. Greenland's former prime minister, Kuupik Kleist, has repeatedly expressed the need to diversify Greenland's economy, which mainly relies on fishery, tourism and a substantial annual block grant from the Danish state. The block grant equals about two-thirds of Greenland's government budget or about one-quarter of the entire GDP of Greenland. Economic stability is seen as a basis for full political independence from Denmark. When Kim Kielsen was reelected with a strong majority as the leader of the largest Greenlandic pro-independence party Siumut in 2017, observers considered it a win for the "slow-independence" faction instead of the "now-independence" faction. During a debate in the Danish Parliament in 2018, Danish Prime MinisterLars Løkke said that Greenland needs to make it clear if they wish to remain a part of the Kingdom or become independent. If Greenland were to become an independent country, the annual block grant from Denmark to Greenland would cease. In 2008, independence campaigners touted the year 2021 as a date for potential independence.
