Changes

The Conservative Manifesto had ten points, most of which are familiar to any modern conservative:<ref>http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/kickler1.html</ref>

The Conservative Manifesto had ten points, most of which are familiar to any modern conservative:<ref>http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/kickler1.html</ref>

*1. The reduction or elimination of capital gains taxes.  

*1. The reduction or elimination of [[capital gain]]s [[taxes]].  

*2. Cut government spending in order to achieve a balanced budget.

*2. Cut government spending in order to achieve a [[balanced budget]].

*3. An end to the violence that resulted from confrontations between businesses and organized labor

*3. An end to the violence that resulted from confrontations between businesses and organized [[labor unions|labor]]

*4. Opposition to government interference in private enterprise, and recognition of the fact that government should not attempt to do jobs which private enterprise can do better.

*4. Opposition to government interference in private enterprise, and recognition of the fact that government should not attempt to do jobs which private enterprise can do better.

*5. Acknowledgement of the fact that private enterprise requires a reasonable profit in order to be successful.

*5. Acknowledgement of the fact that private enterprise requires a reasonable [[profit]] in order to be successful.

*6. Secure collateral in order to ensure stable credit.

*6. Secure collateral in order to ensure stable credit.

*7. Tax cuts wherever possible and practicable, and a commitment to resist tax increases.

*7. [[Tax cut]]s wherever possible and practicable, and a commitment to resist tax increases.

*8. States' rights and the understanding that small local government is more efficiently able to meet the needs of its constituents than a massive federal government.

*8. [[Tenth Amendment|States' rights]] and the understanding that [[limited government|small local government]] is more efficiently able to meet the needs of its constituents than a [[big government|massive federal government]].

*9. An emphasis on the role of local government in providing economic relief.

*9. An emphasis on the role of local government in providing economic relief.

*10. Acknowledgment of the value of the American democratic republic and American free enterprise.

*10. Acknowledgment of the value of the American democratic [[Constitutional republic]] with its [[unalienable rights]] enshrined in the [[Bill of Rights]] and the value of American [[free enterprise]].

==Taking Shape: Kirk and Buckley==

==Taking Shape: Kirk and Buckley==

While it is difficult to point to a single moment in time as the "birth" of modern conservatism, certain key events have been critical. One of these was the publication of Russell Kirk's ''The Conservative Mind'' in 1953.  Kirk established six critical "canons," which would become cornerstones of American conservatism:

*1. Society is not only governed by individual whim and conscience, but also by [[divine providence]] and intent.

*2. [[Tradition]] leads to variety, whereas [[radical]]ism leads to stagnation and stifling uniformity of thought.

 

*2. Tradition leads to variety, whereas radicalism leads to stagnation and stifling uniformity of thought.

*3. Civilization is predicated on order.

*3. Civilization is predicated on order.

*4. Property is inextricably tied to liberty, and vice versa.

*4. [[Private property]] is inextricably tied to [[liberty]], and vice versa.

*5. Moderation and control are crucial to civilization.

*5. [[Moderation]] and [[self-control]] are crucial to civilization.

*6. The natural progression of society is one of slow, gradual change, informed by tradition and custom.  Rapid change--particularly rapid change for the sake of change--is dangerous and corrosive to society. <ref name="heritage">http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL811.cfm</ref>

*6. The natural progression of society is one of slow, gradual change, informed by tradition and custom.  Rapid change -- particularly rapid change for the sake of change -- is dangerous and corrosive to society. <ref name="heritage">http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL811.cfm</ref>

These ideas served as a framework, giving form and direction to American conservative philosophy.

These ideas served as a framework, giving form and direction to American conservative philosophy.

In 1955, Kirk helped William F. Buckley to found ''National Review.''  If ''The Conservative Mind'' gave American conservatism form and direction, ''National Review'' gave it voice, quickly becoming a central vehicle for articulating and promoting conservative philosophy.  Nor was Buckley content to indulge in the passive political navel-gazing so favored by the intelligentsia of the 1950's; ''National Review'' sought to galvanize conservatives, to awaken them to the reality that they were living in "a Liberal world" <ref name="heritage" />--a world which, Buckley argued passionately and eloquently, must be reclaimed by conservatives for the good of America and civilization as a whole.

In 1955, Kirk helped [[William F. Buckley]] to found ''[[National Review]].''  If ''The Conservative Mind'' gave American conservatism form and direction, ''National Review'' gave it voice, quickly becoming a central vehicle for articulating and promoting conservative philosophy.  Nor was Buckley content to indulge in the passive political navel-gazing so favored by the [[intelligentsia]] of the 1950's; ''National Review'' sought to galvanize conservatives, to awaken them to the reality that they were living in "a [[Liberal]] world" <ref name="heritage" />--a world which, Buckley argued passionately and eloquently, must be reclaimed by conservatives for the good of America and civilization as a whole.

==Genesis of a Movement==

==Genesis of a Movement==

Senator [[Robert Taft]] was one of the founders of the conservative movement.  He authored perhaps the most significant legislation of the 20th century, the [[Taft-Hartley Act]] to preserve [[free enterprise]] against suffocating [[unionism]], and obtained its passage over President [[Harry Truman]]'s veto.

Senator [[Robert Taft]] was one of the founders of the conservative movement.  He authored perhaps the most significant legislation of the 20th century, the [[Taft-Hartley Act]] to preserve [[free enterprise]] against suffocating [[unionism]], and obtained its passage over President [[Harry Truman]]'s veto.

Nearly two decades later, [[Barry Goldwater]] built on free enterprise to obtain an unlikely nomination as the the [[Republican]] candidate for president in 1964.  A United States Senator from Arizona, Goldwater's insistence upon conservative principles helped redefine the Republican Party, transforming it into the party of conservatism and conservatives in the early 1960s.  In Goldwater's acceptance speech at the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1964, he famously declared, "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”<ref>http://usconservatives.about.com/od/thinkersanddoers/a/Goldwater.htm</ref>

Nearly two decades later, [[Barry Goldwater]] built on free enterprise to obtain an unlikely nomination as the the [[Republican]] candidate for president in 1964.  A United States Senator from [[Arizona]], Goldwater's insistence upon [[conservative values|conservative principles]] helped redefine the [[Republican Party]], transforming it into the party of conservatism and conservatives in the early 1960s.  In Goldwater's acceptance speech at the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1964, he famously declared, "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”<ref>http://usconservatives.about.com/od/thinkersanddoers/a/Goldwater.htm</ref>

==21st Century Movement==

==21st Century Movement==

In a new bid to regain lost political power, Conservatives have embraced the internet and [[social media]] in particular, to further the cause. In addition, hundreds of thousands, some suggest even millions of Conservatives have or will participate in nationwide TEA parties, a demonstration against a government out-of-step with the "We the people." Some conservatives call the 21st century movement Reagan 2.0, saying his ideas didn't end when he left office 01-20-1989.

In a new bid to regain lost political power, conservatives have embraced the [[internet]] (such as [[Conservapedia]]) and [[social media]] in particular, to further the cause. In addition, hundreds of thousands, some suggest even millions of conservatives have or will participate in nationwide TEA parties, a demonstration against a government out-of-step with the "We the people." Some conservatives call the 21st century movement [[Reagan]] 2.0, saying his ideas didn't end when he left office 01-20-1989.

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Big tent]]

* [[Big tent]]

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Conservatism]]

[[Category:Conservatism]]