The Shift of Western Power in the Anglo-American Relationship as Examined through the Military Events of World War II

How did the authority within the Anglo-American Alliance begin to shift toward the American domination that ruled the second half of the twentieth century? By examining the events of World War II, this thesis restructures the typical timeline with which historians have approached the dynamic of authority in the Anglo-American Relationship. Many historians claim that America was the perceived senior partner by 1941; however, this thesis demonstrates that by examining things from a military lens, that date must change. The British continued to operate under the intention of maintaining their global authority through 1945 and even into 1946. The thesis utilizes the events of the Dieppe Raid, Operation Overlord, and Operation Market Garden, while also briefly discussing other military movements, such as Operation Torch and Operation Anvil, to illustrate the shift in three key vectors of authority: broader strategy, operational command, and force structure.