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Liberals are also far less likely than conservatives to strongly believe each of the following:

Liberals are also far less likely than conservatives to strongly believe each of the following:

*their religious faith is very important in their life (54% of liberals vs. 82% of conservatives); {{cn}}

*their religious faith is very important in their life (54% of liberals vs. 82% of conservatives);  

*a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by doing good deeds or being a good person (23% vs. 37%); {{cn}}

*a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by doing good deeds or being a good person (23% vs. 37%);  

*their faith is becoming an increasingly important moral guide in their life (38% vs. 70%); {{cn}}

*their faith is becoming an increasingly important moral guide in their life (38% vs. 70%);  

*the church they currently attend is very important in helping them find direction and fulfillment in life (37% vs. 62%); {{cn}}

*the church they currently attend is very important in helping them find direction and fulfillment in life (37% vs. 62%);  

*their primary purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul (43% vs. 76%); {{cn}}

*their primary purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul (43% vs. 76%);  

political conservatives were more likely than liberals to:

political conservatives were more likely than liberals to:

*read the Bible, other than at church events, during the past week (57% vs. 33%, respectively) {{cn}}

*read the Bible, other than at church events, during the past week (57% vs. 33%, respectively)  

*attend a religious service during the past week (62% vs. 35%) {{cn}}

*attend a religious service during the past week (62% vs. 35%)  

*pray to God, other than at a religious service, during the past week (91% vs. 76%) {{cn}}

*pray to God, other than at a religious service, during the past week (91% vs. 76%)  

*share their religious beliefs with others, during the past year (56% vs. 39%, among the born again Christians interviewed from each segment) {{cn}}

*share their religious beliefs with others, during the past year (56% vs. 39%, among the born again Christians interviewed from each segment)  

*have ever participated in a short-term missions trip, either within the U.S. or in another country (12% vs. 6%) {{cn}}

*have ever participated in a short-term missions trip, either within the U.S. or in another country (12% vs. 6%)  

*2% of conservatives and 11% of liberals were atheist or agnostic {{cn}}

*2% of conservatives and 11% of liberals were atheist or agnostic  

*15% of conservatives and 2% of liberals were Christian evangelicals {{cn}}

*15% of conservatives and 2% of liberals were Christian evangelicals  

*conservatives were twice as likely as liberals to be categorized as born again, based on their theological views about salvation (63% vs. 32%) {{cn}}

*conservatives were twice as likely as liberals to be categorized as born again, based on their theological views about salvation (63% vs. 32%)  

*21% of conservatives were associated with the Catholic church, compared to 30% among the liberals.{{cn}}

*21% of conservatives were associated with the Catholic church, compared to 30% among the liberals.

== Barack Obama and American Conservatism Backlash ==

== Barack Obama and American Conservatism Backlash ==

# Emphasis on social values, like prayer and pro-life principles.

# Emphasis on social values, like prayer and pro-life principles.

In contrast, neoconservatives generally support bigger government and globalism, and tend to downplay the significance of social values.{{cn}}

In contrast, neoconservatives generally support bigger government and globalism, and tend to downplay the significance of social values.

== Paleoconservatives ==

== Paleoconservatives ==

==History of American conservatism==

==History of American conservatism==

===Textbook problems===

===Textbook problems===

College-level teaching about conservatism has been distorted by a "liberal state paradigm"--that is, textbooks usually interpret recent American history in terms of the origins and successes of political liberalism--especially the New Deal, the welfare state, labor unions, and Civil Rights for blacks and equality for women.{{cn}} Conservative politics is usually defined as a reaction: as a free market reply to the growth of big government; as an expression of outrage against declining support for tradition and Christian morality.{{cn}} Where the violent Wobblies (IWW) and illegal sit down strikes of the 1930s are seen as heroic, exposing Communist subversion by [[Joe McCarthy]] is denounced as the nadir of political morality.<ref> See Leonard Moore, "Approaching Conservatism," ''OAH Magazine of History,'' 17 (January 2003) [http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/conservatism/moore.html online edition]</ref>

College-level teaching about conservatism has been distorted by a "liberal state paradigm"--that is, textbooks usually interpret recent American history in terms of the origins and successes of political liberalism--especially the New Deal, the welfare state, labor unions, and Civil Rights for blacks and equality for women. Conservative politics is usually defined as a reaction: as a free market reply to the growth of big government; as an expression of outrage against declining support for tradition and Christian morality.  Where the violent Wobblies (IWW) and illegal sit down strikes of the 1930s are seen as heroic, exposing Communist subversion by [[Joe McCarthy]] is denounced as the nadir of political morality.<ref> See Leonard Moore, "Approaching Conservatism," ''OAH Magazine of History,'' 17 (January 2003) [http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/conservatism/moore.html online edition]</ref>

===Loyalists===

===Loyalists===

The [[Loyalists]] of the [[American Revolution]] were mostly political conservatives, some of whom produced political discourse of a high order, including lawyer [[Joseph Galloway]] and governor-historian [[Thomas Hutchinson]]. However when the crisis came, they stood with the Crown as it tried to destroy American political liberties. After the war, the great majority remained in the U.S. and became citizens, but some leaders emigrated to other places in the British Empire. [[Samuel Seabury]] was a Loyalist who stayed and as the first American bishop played a major role in shaping the Episcopal religion, a stronghold of conservative social values.  While the Loyalist political tradition died out totally it the U.S., it survives in Canadian conservatism.

The [[Loyalists]] of the [[American Revolution]] were mostly political conservatives, some of whom produced political discourse of a high order, including lawyer [[Joseph Galloway]] and governor-historian [[Thomas Hutchinson]]. However when the crisis came, they stood with the Crown as it tried to destroy American political liberties. After the war, the great majority remained in the U.S. and became citizens, but some leaders emigrated to other places in the British Empire. [[Samuel Seabury]] was a Loyalist who stayed and as the first American bishop played a major role in shaping the Episcopal religion, a stronghold of conservative social values.  While the Loyalist political tradition died out totally it the U.S., it survives in Canadian conservatism.

Levels of prayer and worship are much lower in England and Wales than in the U.S., and religious issues thereby play less of a role in public discourse.  However, religious issues remain a significant factor in [[Northern Ireland]] and in 2008 religious issues were significant during a special election in [[Scotland]].

Levels of prayer and worship are much lower in England and Wales than in the U.S., and religious issues thereby play less of a role in public discourse.  However, religious issues remain a significant factor in [[Northern Ireland]] and in 2008 religious issues were significant during a special election in [[Scotland]].

In common with conservatives in many other countries, British Conservatives tend towards a patriotic rather than internationalist outlook, and are traditionally skeptical of the [[European Union]. {{cn}}

In common with conservatives in many other countries, British Conservatives tend towards a patriotic rather than internationalist outlook, and are traditionally skeptical of the [[European Union]].

The broadcast media (dominated by the [[BBC]]) is almost exclusively liberal in tone. The print media is different with pro-Conservative newspapers like the ''Daily Mail'' , ''Daily Express''  and ''Daily Telegraph'' selling more copies than their rivals.<ref>[http://www.mediauk.com/the_knowledge/i.muk/An_introduction_to_newspapers_in_the_UK Media UK; Introduction to newspapers in the UK]</ref>

The broadcast media (dominated by the [[BBC]]) is almost exclusively liberal in tone. The print media is different with pro-Conservative newspapers like the ''Daily Mail'' , ''Daily Express''  and ''Daily Telegraph'' selling more copies than their rivals.<ref>[http://www.mediauk.com/the_knowledge/i.muk/An_introduction_to_newspapers_in_the_UK Media UK; Introduction to newspapers in the UK]</ref>

== Conservatism and the French Revolution ==

== Conservatism and the French Revolution ==

Conservatism in France and the continent generally arose in the after 1790 as a response to the radicalism of the [[French Revolution]]. {{cn}}

Conservatism in France and the continent generally arose in the after 1790 as a response to the radicalism of the [[French Revolution]].

 

== Benefits of Conservatism ==

== Benefits of Conservatism ==

Several facets of conservatism function in unison to make it an effective and powerful philosophy.  Conservatism emphasizes personal freedom, independence, and initiative; this allows the [[best of the public]] to rise to their natural level of achievement.  Conservatives recognize that [[big government]] fosters dependency and stifles individual achievement--and thus, weakens society as a whole.  {{cn}}

Several facets of conservatism function in unison to make it an effective and powerful philosophy.  Conservatism emphasizes personal freedom, independence, and initiative; this allows the [[best of the public]] to rise to their natural level of achievement.  Conservatives recognize that [[big government]] fosters dependency and stifles individual achievement--and thus, weakens society as a whole.   

At the same time, conservatives also recognize that with individual freedom comes individual responsibility.  In the absence of a hand-holding [[nanny state]], it is imperative that each individual take responsibility for his own actions, and exercise his rights and freedoms wisely and with discretion.  Thus, [[social conservatism]] is also critical to a successful society, as it emphasizes the importance of morality, duty, and responsibility to one's self and fellow men. {{cn}}

At the same time, conservatives also recognize that with individual freedom comes individual responsibility.  In the absence of a hand-holding [[nanny state]], it is imperative that each individual take responsibility for his own actions, and exercise his rights and freedoms wisely and with discretion.  Thus, [[social conservatism]] is also critical to a successful society, as it emphasizes the importance of morality, duty, and responsibility to one's self and fellow men.

== See also ==

== See also ==