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'''American conservatism''' is a political tradition in the United States that honors the U.S. Constitution, the Founding Fathers, and Christianity. Various definitions exist. “What is conservatism?” Abraham Lincoln asked in his Cooper Union address. “Is it not preference for the old and tried, over the new and untried?” In ''The Devil's Dictionary'' (1906), American writer Ambrose Bierce explains that a conservative is, “a statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.” Conservatives believe that government should act to support existing ways of life; They oppose social engineering programs proposed by liberals and radicals.

'''American conservatism''' is a political tradition in the United States that honors the U.S. Constitution, the Founding Fathers, and Christianity. Various definitions exist. “What is conservatism?” Abraham Lincoln asked in his Cooper Union address. “Is it not preference for the old and tried, over the new and untried?” In ''The Devil's Dictionary'' (1906), American writer Ambrose Bierce explains that a conservative is, “a statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.” Historian Gregory Schneider defines conservatism as "a defense of tradition."<ref name=Schneider>Gregory Schneider, ''The Conservative Century: From Reaction to Revolution'' (Rowman & Littlefield. 2009) p. xii</ref> In the conservative view, the proper role of government is to support existing ways of life. Liberal proposals to restructure society are condemned as "utopian" and "social reengineering." The word "conservative" is from ''Le Conservateur'', the name of an ultraroyalist French periodical founded by Chateaubriand n 1818. In the early 1830s, the word was adopted as a self-description by the Tories in Britain, as well as by John Calhoun in the U.S.

The modern conservative movement can be traced to Edmund Burke, a British politician who articulated the philosophy in ''Reflections on the Revolution in France'' (1790). Thus conservative ideology originated in opposition to the rationalistic social reforms of the French Revolution. Burke was a Whig and a supporter the American Revolution. His political position was to the left of the Tories, who supported royal authority and opposed the revolution. Liberals identify conservatism with right-wing views. But as this example shows, conservatives are not necessarily the most right-wing group on the political spectrum. According to Burke, "change is the means of our preservation." So the idea that conservatives oppose all change is another liberal caricature.

The modern conservative movement can be traced to [[Edmund Burke]], a British politician who gave a statement of the ideology in ''Reflections on the Revolution in France'' (1790). Burke's views originated in opposition to the social reengineering projects of the French revolutionaries. Burke was a Whig and a supporter the American Revolution. His political position was to the left of the Tories, who supported royal authority and opposed the revolution. Liberals may identify conservatism with right-wing views. But as this example illustrates, conservatives are not necessarily the most right-wing group on the political spectrum. According to Burke, "change is the means of our preservation." So the idea that conservatives oppose all change is another liberal caricature.

Burke was read by the first generation of American conservatives, including Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and John Randolph. Historian Russell Kirk identifies the Citizen Genêt affair of 1793 as the first occasion when American liberals and conservatives squared off. The ideological struggle between Republicans and Federalists ended with the French Revolution. In the nineteenth century, sectional disputes generally overshadowed ideological ones.

Since America lacks an aristocracy or an established church, the tradition that American conservatives defend is not simple to define. Schneider identifies American conservatism with support of republicanism, "the rule of law and the Christian religion," and a defense of "Western civilization from the challenges of modernist culture and totalitarian governments."<ref name="Schneider" />

The word "conservative" is from ''Le Conservateur'', the name of an ultraroyalist French periodical founded by Chateaubriand in 1818. In the early 1830s, the word was adopted as a self-description by the Tories in Britain and later by John Calhoun in the U.S.

Burke was read by the first generation of American conservatives, including [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[John Adams]], and [[John Randolph]]. Historian [[Russell Kirk]] identifies the Citizen Genêt affair of 1793 as the first occasion when American liberals and conservatives squared off. The ideological struggle between Republicans and Federalists ended with the French Revolution. In the nineteenth century, sectional disputes generally overshadowed ideological ones.

The split between Democrats and Republicans originated in the 1850s over the issue of slavery. Once the slavery issue was resolved, these became sectional labels. The Democrats represented the South, while the Republicans representing the North.

The American Whigs of 1830s and 1840s identified as conservative. In practice, the political positions of the party's state organizations varied widely. It's nominees for president were non-ideological war heroes.

The rise labor unions in the late the nineteenth century led to renewed ideological struggle. With the Pullman strike of 1894, the nation was again split into liberal and conservative camps. In the 1896 presidential election, "populist" William Jennings Bryan ousted President Grover Cleveland, giving liberals control of the Democratic Party. Cleveland's supporters fled to the Republican Party to support William McKinley. In this way, the Republicans became a conservative pro-business party, the party of "sound money and protection."

 

The rise of labor unions in the late the nineteenth century led to renewed ideological struggle. With the Pullman strike of 1894, the nation was again split into liberal and conservative camps. In the 1896 presidential election, "populist" William Jennings Bryan ousted President [[Grover Cleveland]], a conservative icon, as the Democratic Party's nominee. Cleveland's supporters fled to the Republican Party to support William McKinley, who won the general election. In this way, the Republicans became a conservative pro-business party, the party of "sound money and protection." The 1896 election proved to be a watershed event that would define the positions of the two major parties for generations.

 

==References==

==References==

*Kirk, Russell, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Elliot''

*Kirk, Russell, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Elliot''

[[Category:Conservatism]]

[[Category:Conservatism]]