Changes

==History==

==History==

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.

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" />

===Adams and Jefferson===

===Adams and Jefferson===

[[File:John adams.gif|thumb|[[John Adams]] was the second president of the United States (1797-1801).]]

[[File:John adams.gif|thumb|[[John Adams]] was the second president of the United States (1797-1801).]]

Burke was read by the first generation of American conservatives, including [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[John Adams]], and [[John Randolph]]. Hamilton founded the Federalist Party, America's first conservative party, in 1789. The Republicans, a rival pro-French faction led by [[Thomas Jefferson]], emerged in 1793 during the Citizen Genêt affair. In 1796, Adams won the presidency as the Federalist nominee. In the election of 1800, Jefferson defeated Adams in America's first hotly contested presidential election. The Jeffersonian Republicans were classical liberals, with a focus on limited government. The modern trade-union-oriented variety of liberalism did not emerge until the late nineteenth century. So Jefferson was actually quite conservative by today's standards. The intensely ideological politicking of 1800 dissipated at the end of the French Revolution. By 1816, the Federalist Party had dissolved altogether. Yet [[James Monroe]], president from 1817 to 1825, freely adopted various Federalist positions regarding tariffs, a national bank, and other issues. The ideological differences that had loomed so large earlier were left behind and an "Era of Good Feelings" dawned.

Burke was read by the first generation of American conservatives, including [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[John Adams]], and [[John Randolph]]. Hamilton founded the [[Federalist Party]], America's first conservative party, in 1789. The Republicans, a rival pro-French faction led by [[Thomas Jefferson]], emerged in 1793 during the Citizen Genêt affair. In 1796, Adams won the presidency as the Federalist nominee. In the election of 1800, Jefferson defeated Adams in America's first hotly contested presidential election. The Jeffersonian Republicans were classical liberals, with a focus on limited government. The modern trade-union-oriented variety of liberalism did not emerge until the late nineteenth century. So Jefferson was actually quite conservative by today's standards. The intensely ideological politicking of 1800 dissipated at the end of the French Revolution. By 1816, the Federalist Party had dissolved altogether. Yet [[James Monroe]], president from 1817 to 1825, freely adopted various Federalist positions regarding tariffs, a national bank, and other issues. The ideological differences that had loomed so large earlier were left behind and an "Era of Good Feelings" dawned.

===Whigs and Democrats===

===Whigs and Democrats===

Andrew Jackson's 1824 campaign for president divided the Republican Party into Jacksonians (who later organized as the Democratic Party) and anti-Jacksonians, who contested the 1828 and 1832 elections as the National Republican Party. This party nominated Henry Clay, who proposed a nationalist agenda called the "American System." After the National Republicans collapsed, anti-Jacksonians reorganized as the Whig Party. The coherent ideology of the National Republicans was abandoned so that the new party could tailor its appeal regionally. Although the Whigs proclaimed themselves conservative, the political positions of the party's various state organizations diverged widely. Its nominees for president were non-ideological war heroes.

[[Andrew Jackson]]'s 1824 campaign for president divided the Republican Party into Jacksonians (who later organized as the Democratic Party) and anti-Jacksonians, who contested the 1828 and 1832 elections as the National Republican Party. This party nominated [[Henry Clay]], who proposed a nationalist agenda called the "American System." After the National Republicans collapsed, anti-Jacksonians reorganized as the Whig Party. The coherent ideology of the National Republicans was abandoned so that the new party could tailor its appeal regionally. Although the Whigs proclaimed themselves conservative, the political positions of the party's various state organizations diverged widely. Its nominees for president were non-ideological war heroes.

The modern Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery party. Although the new party adopted the name of Jefferson's party, it is not linked to it organizationally. 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. Stephen Douglas, the Democratic nominee, supported the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, which proclaim slaves private property protected by the U.S. Constitution, beyond federal control. The liberal wing of the Republican party, or Abolitionists, favored the abolition 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 modern Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery party. Although the new party adopted the name of Jefferson's party, it is not linked to it organizationally. 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. [[Stephen Douglas]], the Democratic nominee, supported the Supreme Court's [[Dred Scott v. Sandford|Dred Scott decision]], which proclaim slaves private property protected by the U.S. Constitution, beyond federal control. The liberal wing of the Republican party, or Abolitionists, favored the abolition 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.

===McKinley and Bryan===

===McKinley and Bryan===

The rise of labor unions in the late the nineteenth century led to renewed ideological struggle. The founding of the Populist Party in 1891 marks the entrance of modern class warfare liberalism into mainstream American politics. This sort of liberalism is an Americanization of the socialist movement that arose in Europe at about this time. It turns the earlier meaning of "liberal," someone who supports freedom, on its head.

The rise of labor unions in the late the nineteenth century led to renewed ideological struggle. The founding of the [[Populist Party]] in 1891 marks the entrance of modern class warfare liberalism into mainstream American politics. This sort of liberalism is an [[Americanization]] of the socialist movement that arose in Europe at about this time. It turns the earlier meaning of "liberal," someone who supports freedom, on its head.

The Pullman strike of 1894 split the nation into liberal and conservative camps. In the 1896 presidential election, the populists gained control of the Democratic Party and nominated William Jennings Bryan for president. Those Democrats who supported President [[Grover Cleveland]], a conservative icon, fled to the Republican Party. William McKinley, the Republican nominee, won the general election. In this way, the Republican Party became a conservative pro-business party, the party of "sound money and protection." The 1896 election was the first of many in which a pro-union liberal party faced off against a pro-business conservative party.

The [[Pullman Strike|Pullman strike]] of 1894 split the nation into liberal and conservative camps. In the 1896 presidential election, the populists gained control of the Democratic Party and nominated [[William Jennings Bryan]] for president. Those Democrats who supported President [[Grover Cleveland]], a conservative icon, fled to the Republican Party. [[William McKinley]], the Republican nominee, won the general election. In this way, the Republican Party became a conservative pro-business party, the party of "sound money and protection." The 1896 election was the first of many in which a pro-union liberal party faced off against a pro-business conservative party.

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

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