Changes

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 was the first time a major party presidential candidates who were liberal and conservative in the modern sense faced off against each other.

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 was the first time a major party presidential candidates who were liberal and conservative in the modern sense faced off against each other.

===The 1920: Conservative high tide===

===The 1920s: Conservative high tide===

President [[Woodrow Wilson]], a Democrat, used World War I as a pretext to impose his "progressive" agenda, including increased federal economic control. Americans reacted by voting for Harding and "normalcy" in 1920. The election of 1924 was the "high tide" of American conservatism, with both major party nominees for president espousing conservative views.<ref>Tucker III, Garland S., ''The High Tide of American Conservatism: Davis, Coolidge and the 1924 Election'' (2010)</ref> The 1920s was also a golden age of conservative writing. Irving Babbitt wrote the classic ''Democracy and Leadership'' (1924), while H. L. Mencken edited ''The American Mercury''. The Democratic Party returned to liberal control when New York governor Al Smith was nominated for president in 1928.  

President [[Woodrow Wilson]], a Democrat, used World War I as a pretext to impose his "progressive" agenda, including increased federal economic control. Americans reacted by voting for Harding and "normalcy" in 1920. The election of 1924 was the "high tide" of American conservatism, with both major party nominees for president espousing conservative views.<ref>Tucker III, Garland S., ''The High Tide of American Conservatism: Davis, Coolidge and the 1924 Election'' (2010)</ref> The 1920s was also a golden age of conservative writing. Irving Babbitt wrote the classic ''Democracy and Leadership'' (1924), while H. L. Mencken edited ''The American Mercury''. The Democratic Party returned to liberal control when New York governor Al Smith was nominated for president in 1928.

===The 1930s: Liberalism ascendant===

===The 1930s: Liberalism ascendant===