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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.” 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.

'''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 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.

The modern conservative movement can be traced to [[Edmund Burke]], a British politician who provided a statement of the ideology in ''Reflections on the Revolution in France'' (1790). Burke's views were developed in response 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 canard.

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" />

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" />

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.

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. In the election of 1800, Republican [[Thomas Jefferson]] and Federalist John Adams clashed over policy toward France, taxes, state's rights, and other issues. This type of intensely ideological politicking dissipated with the end of the French Revolution.

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 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 split between Democrats and Republicans originated in the 1850s over the issue of slavery. In the election of 1860, Lincoln emphasized that federal control of slavery in the federal territories was a conservative idea, based on a straightforward reading of the U.S. Constitution. Douglas, the Democratic nominee, supported the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, which forbad such control. The Abolitionists, or liberal wing of the Republican Party, wanted to abolish slavery nationally, a position not based on the Constitution. Once the slavery issue was resolved, the Democrats became simply the party of the South, the Republicans the party of the North.

Jefferson's Republican Party dissolved in 1825. The modern Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery party. In the election of 1860, Lincoln, the Republican nominee, emphasized that federal control of slavery in the federal territories was a conservative idea, based on a straightforward reading of the U.S. Constitution. Douglas, the Democratic nominee, supported the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, which forbad such control. The Abolitionists, or liberal wing of the Republican Party, wanted to abolish slavery nationally, a position not based on the Constitution. Once the slavery issue was resolved, the Democrats became simply the party of the South, the Republicans the party of the North.

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.

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.