Churchill-Roosevelt relationship and the planning of the war, 1940-1943

Abstract

Winston Churchill's active encouragement of close Anglo-American relations during the early phases of the Second World War was an important part of his direction of the British war effort. The relationship between Churchill and Roosevelt grew warmer as the war progressed and affected the outcome of the war.

This relationship developed slowly out of the efforts of Churchill to obtain allies to fight against Germany. Churchill was successful in securing evidence of American support early in the war, first in the form of destroyers and Lend-Lease. In 1941 in the Atlantic these two leaders met secretly and produced an eight point plan for the post-war world.

Churchill and Roosevelt met several more times during the war, and each time they released reports of the results of the meeting. Churchill was the dominant force in the partnership early in the war. As the war progressed, Roosevelt gradually began to assume leadership, especially after the United States became the dominant military power of the war. At Teheran, Churchill met for the first time with their third major ally, Joseph Stalin. From this time on, Roosevelt was clearly the dominant leader of the allies. The relationship of Roosevelt and Churchill is an important aspect of the Second World War.