Forced into the Shade: Winston Churchill and the American Naval Challenge
The United States emerged as a naval competitor of Great Britain after the First World War. American naval ambitions exasperated the British statesman Winston Churchill, who saw this challenge as threatening Britain’s position as the world’s leading sea power. Faced by America’s growing economy and navy, Churchill lamented Britain’s decline as a world power. He confided to his wife Clementine: “Poor old England — she is being slowly but surely forced into the shade.” Despite America’s undoubted economic strength, Churchill was determined that Britain stay ahead of the United States in the naval arms race.
This lecture examines Churchill’s views about America’s growing naval power and Britain’s ability to compete against the United States. Examining Churchill’s views in this period provides an opportunity to explore questions about how the leading world power responded to a rising international challenger. How did Churchill assess American foreign policy aims and power to achieve them? How did he think Britain could win a naval arms race with the United States when it possessed a stronger economy? Did he consider war “unthinkable” between Britain and the United States? Or did Churchill fear that the international ambitions of the two countries make them destined for war?
About this Lecture
Lectures of Opportunity offers U.S. Naval War College (NWC) students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to learn more about national and international socio-political subjects that may be of relevance to the NWC community.
More on Lectures of Opportunity