When was the symbolic transfer of world power and responsibility from UK to USA?

Question

Who were the England's Prime Minister and the USA's President that had spoken then?
Which was the conflict that triggered the Prime Minister's phone call?
Which was the exact date or at least the year of this transfer of power? Was it before, during or just after the Second World War?

Answer 1

I don't think there was a specific phone call or statement that is recognized as the point of transfer. In the years before The United States entered WWII officially, they were supplying England. In many ways it was this supply of goods that allowed England to survive.

By the time the US entered the war many observers had become convinced that the industrial capacity of that country would be the deciding factor in the war. It was this more than anything else that shifted power.

This was a symbolic transfer though. While it was not recognized for its power that way. US potential was already well developed by this time.

Post WWII Europe was the first example of wide scale US intervention in the affairs of Europe. In general before this US policy was pretty much non-involvement.

Answer 2

I think I disagree with all the responders. I believe the world began to change in terms of power and leadership after the Monroe Doctrine. Perhaps even after the War of 1812. The fledgling United States of America was already a world player, having truly entered the world stage with the Louisiana Purchase. And it did not take us long to start flexing our muscles either. We defeated the supposedly most powerful military machine at the time, the British army. Then we took on Spain by the end of the century. In between we bought Alaska from the Russians, defeated Mexico thereby increasing our land area by force, and so on. England could not have won either the first or second world wars without our direct military intervention. And in WW2 we fought on two fronts, and won. Truly the era produced America's finest generation.

So, I don't think there really is an answer to your question. I believe from our creation as a nation Amerca became in a gradual way the primary mover and shaker on the international scene.

Answer 3

Around the beginning of the 20th century, during the world wars. It was a gradual transition. I don't think you can put an exact date on it or say prime minister X called and told president Y that the US is now the new world power. It was simply a matter of The British Empire being in decline and the US was coming into it's own.

I've provided a link to an article I found that made some good points about this transition.

Answer 4

After the World wars 1 and 2.

Answer 5

World War I was crucial in the power transfer. When it turned out that the Old World cannot solve its own problems and needs an older brother to come and ''help'' them solve, it marked down the global leadership of US. After this US president Wilson drew a plan about how he perceives the New World Order!! Sounds familiar, huh? We have been hearing this term from many US Presidents aferwards; the New Order, the New Deal, etc..

From a British stand point, we can say that the period coincides with the death of Queen Victoria..

Answer 6

When Churchill came here grovelling!
Too easy.

Everyone else is long winded and wrong! It's when Churchill came here and addresses (pleaded with) congress! He even went so far as to invoke his American ancestry! GB was on the edge, they needed to convince the US to at least provide materiel.
He was begging for help.

Answer 7

Go do your own homework.Thanks for the points.

Answer 8

Never happened.