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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.

'''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. “Is it not preference for the old and tried, over the new and untried?”<ref>Lincoln, Abraham, "[http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/cooper.htm Cooper Union Address]" (1860).</ref> 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. Conservatives are partial to institutions that were built up gradually and whose current form distills the accumulated wisdom of generations. Liberal proposals to restructure society are condemned as "utopian" and "social reengineering."

Various definitions exist. “What is conservatism?” Abraham Lincoln asked rhetorically. “Is it not preference for the old and tried, over the new and untried?”<ref>Lincoln, Abraham, "[http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/cooper.htm Cooper Union Address]" (1860).</ref> 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. Conservatives are partial to institutions that were built up gradually and whose current form distills the accumulated wisdom of generations. Liberal proposals to restructure society are condemned as "utopian" and "social re-engineering."

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, as well as by John Calhoun in the U.S.

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, as well as by John Calhoun in the U.S.

==History==

==History==

As an intellectual movement, conservativism can be traced to [[Edmund Burke]], a British politician who provided a statement of his ideology in ''Reflections on the Revolution in France'' (1790).<ref>Kirk, Russell, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Elliot'', ACLS Humanities E-Book; 7 Revised edition (August 1, 2008), p. 6. "Conscious conservatism, in the modern sense, did not manifest itself until 1790, with the publication of ''Reflections on the Revolution in France''.</ref> 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, a major party that supported royal authority against the parliament. American Tories, or Loyalists, fled to Canada during the Revolution, so this faction played no role is subsequent U.S political history. 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.

As an intellectual movement, conservatism can be traced to [[Edmund Burke]], a British politician who provided a statement of the ideology in ''Reflections on the Revolution in France'' (1790).<ref>Kirk, Russell, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Elliot'', ACLS Humanities E-Book; 7 Revised edition (August 1, 2008), p. 6. "Conscious conservatism, in the modern sense, did not manifest itself until 1790, with the publication of ''Reflections on the Revolution in France''.</ref> Burke's views were developed in response to the social re-engineering 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, a major party that supported royal authority against the parliament. American Tories, or Loyalists, fled to Canada during the Revolution, so this faction played no role is subsequent U.S political history. 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" />

Roosevelt was overwhelmingly reelected in 1936 with a huge Congressional majority. In 1937, America suffered under its most left-wing government ever. There was a wave a labor unrest as the unions attempted to use "sit-down" strikes to gain control of industry. The largest of these strikes was against General Motors in Flint, Michigan. The strikes sent the economy reeling, and there was a "Roosevelt Recession" in 1937-1938. At the end of 1937, the southern Democrats defected from Roosevelt's coalition to form a "Conservative Coalition" with Republicans. The Coalition was at first led by Senator Josiah Bailey of North Carolina, who issued a "[[Conservative Manifesto]]" in December 1937. When a bill to enlarge the U.S. Supreme Court with additional justices nominated by Roosevelt was defeated, the planned "Second New Deal" had to be aborted. Despite Roosevelt's mismanagement of the economy, the Democrats continued to blame Hoover for economic trouble long after the former president had left the political stage. However, the Conservative Coalition continued to dominated Congress until 1961.

Roosevelt was overwhelmingly reelected in 1936 with a huge Congressional majority. In 1937, America suffered under its most left-wing government ever. There was a wave a labor unrest as the unions attempted to use "sit-down" strikes to gain control of industry. The largest of these strikes was against General Motors in Flint, Michigan. The strikes sent the economy reeling, and there was a "Roosevelt Recession" in 1937-1938. At the end of 1937, the southern Democrats defected from Roosevelt's coalition to form a "Conservative Coalition" with Republicans. The Coalition was at first led by Senator Josiah Bailey of North Carolina, who issued a "[[Conservative Manifesto]]" in December 1937. When a bill to enlarge the U.S. Supreme Court with additional justices nominated by Roosevelt was defeated, the planned "Second New Deal" had to be aborted. Despite Roosevelt's mismanagement of the economy, the Democrats continued to blame Hoover for economic trouble long after the former president had left the political stage. However, the Conservative Coalition continued to dominated Congress until 1961.

==References==

==References==