The Rise of the Anglo-American World Power

SINCE the end of World War II the Western nations and the Communist Eastern bloc have been in a competitive struggle that has at times erupted into violence. Great Britain and the United States, as a combined or dual world power, have led the Western nations in resisting the expansion of communism.

After twenty-five years of cold wars, provocative acts by both sides and hot wars, the world situation is still tense and dangerous, as shown by conditions in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. What will the future bring? Will it be annihilation in a global nuclear war? Is there any hope of ever realizing permanent peace? Certain facts concerning the Anglo-American world power shed light on the matter.

Close Relationship

A close relationship has long existed between Great Britain and the United States. In 1946 Winston Churchill spoke of it as a “special relationship,” a “fraternal association.”

This relationship was clearly evident during World War I and World War II. It was the pooling of the military machines and economic resources of these two nations that enabled them to defeat the military might of Germany and her allies in those two wars. The atomic bomb that played such a prominent role in deciding the outcome of World War II was the result of a joint effort by British and American scientists. But that is not all.

It has been the partnership of these two nations and their initiatives that have played key roles in establishing systems for world trade and finance. In fact, the basic currencies for use in international trade have been the British pound sterling and the American dollar. Still another indication of the world influence of the Anglo-American combine is the fact that these two nations were the initiating force behind the formation of the League of Nations and the United Nations.

There can be little doubt that the Anglo-American world power has exercised a profound influence on world affairs in this twentieth century. Although Great Britain and the United States have had some differences of opinion, they have had, on the whole, a close partnership that has made them a dual world power unequaled in history. On this point the Saturday Evening Post of July 1, 1967, observed: “Winston Churchill was fond of pointing out that the United States and Britain together made an unchallengeable combination. This is still true, empire or no empire, gold drain or no gold drain.”

Noting the close relationship of the two countries, the British ambassador to the United States stated in a speech delivered on May 22, 1963: “Today, I believe our two governments are cooperating with each other more closely than any other two free and sovereign powers have ever done before in peacetime. . . . No alliancein history has wielded as much power as that of the Anglo-American partnership since the day in 1941 when we stood as comrades in arms.” This partnership is significant, as it was foretold in Bible prophecy.

Early Beginning

The seed for the Anglo-American World power was actually planted by the Roman Empire a long time ago. According to Biblical history, the Roman Empire was the sixth world power in a series that began with ancient Egypt, or the fourth counting from Babylon. As foretold, the Anglo-American world power, described as a ‘horn speaking grandiose things,’ was to spring from the Roman Empire. (Dan. 7:7, 8, 23, 24) How did this prove to be so?

When the Roman armies arrived in Britain in the first century before our Common Era, they made Britain part of the Roman Empire. Thus the sixth world power became firmly established there with its local capital at Camulodunum, which is now Colchester. Before the Romans came, the land was divided among approximately thirty tribes of people. After these tribes were subdued, the area constituted the western division of the Roman European provinces.

Under Roman protection Britain prospered, approximately ninety-two towns rising there. Acknowledging this Roman domination of Britain as the beginning of the history of Great Britain, the book The Historians’ History of the World by Henry Smith Williams states: “The history of Great Britain may be said to begin with the landing of Caesar’s legions on the southern shore of England.” Thus we see the link between the Roman Empire and the Anglo-American or seventh world power.

Why the Date 1763 Is Significant

The first appearance of the seventh world power was in 1763, when Great Britain became the foremost commercial power of the world. It was in this year that she took over most of the French possessions in North America at the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War, which involved nearly every nation of Europe and was fought world wide​—in India, North America, Germany and on the high seas. Now the seed that had been planted by the Roman Empire had grown into a mighty organization that would in time become a dual world power, foretold in the Bible at Revelation 13:11 under the symbol of a wild beast that “had two horns like a lamb” but that “began speaking as a dragon.”

That the Seven Years’ War, which began in 1756 and ended in 1763, marked the emergence of Great Britain as a world power is noted by the Encyclopædia Britannica in its Eleventh Edition. It says: “This war laid the foundations of the British empire. . . . The treaties of Paris (February 10, 1763) and Hubertsburg (February 15) marked an important stage in the history of Europe. By the first [treaty] Great Britain emerged from the war an imperial power with possessions all over the world.”

Although Great Britain lost her American colonies in the Revolutionary War that began in 1775, she continued to expand elsewhere as a world power. From 1798 to 1805 she quadrupled her area of control in India and by 1818 was the sovereign ruler there. During the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901) further areas of India, as well as Burma and large portions of Africa came under British control.

At the time of this queen’s death the British Empire possessed one out of every four square miles of land area in the world, giving rise to the saying that ‘the sun never sets on the British Empire.’ It has been said that one person out of every five in the world was a British subject. Because of her sea power it was said that ‘Britannia rules the waves.’ But how did Great Britain, as the seventh world power, grow into a dual power, a power that plays an important role in world events today?

Appearance of the Dual Anglo-American Power

The beginning of the change was when the American colonies, which were originally British, broke away to form a separate nation, the United States of America. It was not long until the British Empire and this new nation were working together in a partnership. This was at the time of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.

It was about this time that Great Britain became alarmed when several European governments urged France to send troops to Latin America so as to help restore Spanish and Portuguese royal government there. She suggested to the United States that a joint notice be issued warning the European governments to stay out of the Americas.

The United States decided to act alone and issued the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that she would resist any attempt of those nations to colonize or dominate the Americas. Commenting on this, the World Book Encyclopedia, in its 1966 edition, states: “But the doctrine owed its effectiveness more to British sea power than to American policy.” At that time the United States was still relatively weak.

During the Spanish-American War of 1898 Britain and the United States drew still closer together. This is pointed out by the New Cambridge Modern History by G. N. Clark, p. 580: “A war in which the United States was subsequently engaged with Spain cemented this feeling. The government and the people of the United States recognized the advantage which they derived from the goodwill of Great Britain in the hour of their necessity, and the two nations drew together as no other two nations had perhaps ever been drawn together before.” This close relationship has continued into the twentieth century, as we have seen, resulting in a dual world power.

Showing that this world power still has a powerful position in world affairs, The Washington Post, in its issue of September 28, 1969, commented on the military presence of the United States in other countries. It observed that this presence exists in sixty-eight foreign countries and then said: “Truly, the sun never sets on America’s bewildering military entanglements.” Thus the influence of the Anglo-American world power is still felt world wide even though Great Britain no longer has the vast empire she once had. But now this influence is being challenged by the Communist nations.

What Does All This Mean to You?

You are affected today by the “pushing” going on between the Anglo-American world power and the Communist bloc of nations. If this should explode into a global nuclear war, everyone will be affected in a frightful way.

If this competition should develop into an economic collapse on the part of the Anglo-American world power, you would most likely be affected economically. Why? Because the economic health of many nations is at present dependent in one way or another on the economic well-being of the Anglo-American world power. But where can you turn for reliable information about the future?

The Bible contains the information that you need. It foretold not only the rise of the Anglo-American world power but also that it would engage in a pushing with the Communist bloc of nations. When foretelling this it speaks of these political powers as the “king of the south” and the “king of the north.”​—Dan. 11:40.

What the Bible says about the future of the Anglo-American world power and the Communist “king of the north” can give you genuine hope for better world conditions. It does not foretell victory for either one of those powers over the other, but rather shows that both of them will come to their end. They will be replaced by God’s kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ, and it is this government that will actually succeed in ushering in permanent world peace.​—Dan. 2:44; Isa. 9:7; Ps. 37:11.

Her Heartfelt Desire Realized

WHEN I ponder on what happened to our dear Aunt Ida my heart just glows and I cannot keep my eyes from glistening with tears of joy. What came to pass as a result of her faithful endurance in serving God and doing good to her neighbors is something I will never forget. It has been a source of encouragement to me when I get to feeling a little low.

To begin with, Aunt Ida was getting along in years and she was handicapped in many ways. For one thing, she was extremely hard of hearing. For another, she was totally dependent on others for transportation. Also her natural abilities were somewhat limited. As the years rolled by she often tripped and fell when she went up and down the stairs at the homes she visited with God’s message of truth here in Missouri. Yes, our dear Aunt Ida was one of Jehovah’s witnesses and she never gave up trying to serve Jehovah God faithfully to the best of her ability.

Nevertheless, there were times when she felt that her Christian ministry had been a failure. This was because there was no one that she could point to as a letter of recommendation, yes, someone whom she could say that she directed to the truth of God. But she continued doing her Christian work faithfully. Always willing, always smiling, that was Aunt Ida.

In 1967 Aunt Ida saw her heartfelt desire fulfilled at last. The joy that came to her that year was the result of her efforts to be a right kind of minister of God under all circumstances. For some time she had been calling on a woman down the street from where she lived. She had left this woman literature explaining the Bible and even helped her to learn something about the loving promises of God. Well, this woman died and Aunt Ida lovingly called and offered comfort to the woman’s son who lived there. She also took along some food for the family’s use during this sad time.

While Aunt Ida was visiting this son, she invited him to come to the meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses at the Kingdom Hall. Two weeks later he came, bringing with him his small son. Every Sunday he came, and Aunt Ida just beamed with happiness. At last she was helping someone toward the truth that leads to everlasting life. This may not seem much to others, but the rest of us who are in the congregation know that she accomplished something that others of us had not been able to do in years. She was blessed in directing the first Negro from our town to Jehovah God’s truth.

Aunt Ida is gone now; she died last year (1969), but she lived long enough to see this man symbolize his dedication to Jehovah God by water baptism. Also she had the joy of seeing him marry a woman that he helped to learn this precious truth. And yes, joy of joys, she saw them open up their home for use as a local meeting place for a neighborhood study of the Bible. Aunt Ida rejoiced at the privilege of attending it.

So, you can understand why I am so encouraged and touched by what happened to this humble servant of Jehovah, our dear Aunt Ida.​—Contributed.