I am currently reviewing for a test on World War II, and the textbook mentioned that America wanted to help Britain because if Britain fell, there was no democracy left in Europe and nothing was holding Germany back. I think this is similar to Teod's conflict on whether or not to help Arelon. (Teod is America, Arelon is Britain, and Fjordell is Germany). Other evidence for this includes the monastery Dakhor being similar in name and, it seems, ~ideology~, to Dachau.
Thoughts?
Disclaimer: I read Elantris about a year ago, so my memory of the details is shoddy, and some of this may be a little off.