Changes

==Early Roots==

==Early Roots==

While [[conservatism]] has been a defining force in [[American politics]] since the dawn of the nation, modern conservatism begins with the unfettered [[liberalism]] of the [[New Deal]]. Recognizing the tremendous harm that [[big government|massive government]] could bring, concerned [[Democrat]]s and [[Republican]]s banded together behind [[North Carolina]] [[Senator]] [[Josiah Bailey]] to protest what they saw as a power grab by [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]. This protest, initially titled "An Address to the People of the United States," came to be known as the "Conservative Manifesto." 

 

|[[File:Arthur H Vandenberg.jpg|156px]]

|[[File:Josiah W. Bailey.jpg|160px]]

|colspan="2"|<hr/>[[Arthur H. Vandenberg]] (left) and [[Josiah W. Bailey]] (right).

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 gain]]s [[taxes]].  

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

 

# Cut [[deficit spending|government spending]] in order to achieve a [[balanced budget]].

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

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

 

# 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.

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

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

 

# Secure [[collateral]] in order to ensure stable [[credit]].

* 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.

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

 

# [[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]].

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

# An emphasis on the role of local government and [[church]]es in providing economic relief.

 

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

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

 

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

 

* 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 and [[church]]es in providing economic relief.

 

* 10. Acknowledgment of the value of the American [[democracy|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:

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.

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

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

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

* 5. [[Moderation]] and [[self-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">https://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 1950s; ''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 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>

Nearly two decades later, [[Barry Goldwater]] built on free enterprise to obtain an unlikely nomination as 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==

===Survival Concerns Cause Preppers to Join the Movement===

===Survival Concerns Cause Preppers to Join the Movement===

Many [[citizen]]s more actively joined the Conservative Movement since 1999 because of a interest in [[:Category:Survivalism|preparedness and survivalism]]. This burgeoning interest began just before [[Y2K]] and continued to increase, as did [[Gun Owners of America|gun ownership]] due to [[9/11]] [[terrorist]] attacks and the increasingly worse [[deficit spending]]/[[National debt]] caused by the [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] and the [[United States Presidential Election, 2008|the election of Obama]] ([[Obamageddon]]-[[Obamunism]]). Many [[gun enthusiast]]s, conservatives and preppers have stated that "Obama is the greatest gun [[sales]]man ever." This is due to Obama's extreme "[[gun control|gun grabbing]]" policies and [[Executive Order]]s.

Many [[citizen]]s more actively joined the Conservative Movement since 1999 because of an interest in preparedness and survivalism. This burgeoning interest began just before [[Y2K]] and continued to increase, as did [[Gun Owners of America|gun ownership]] due to [[9/11]] [[terrorist]] attacks and the increasingly worse [[deficit spending]]/[[National debt]] caused by the [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] and the [[United States Presidential Election, 2008|the election of Obama]] ([[Obamageddon]]-[[Obamunism]]). Many [[gun enthusiast]]s, conservatives and preppers have stated that "Obama is the greatest gun salesman ever." This is due to Obama's extreme "[[gun control]]" policies and [[Executive Order]]s.

These events greatly worsened the already out-of-control [[liberal]] [[Welfare state]] leading to a [[socialist]] [[Nanny state]] and now under the [[Obama Administration]]'s [[ObamaCare]] and increasing irrelevance of the [[Bill of Rights]]-[[Constitution]], there is a budding [[Police state]]. This situation has caused many ordinary citizens, including those who formerly thought of themselves as [[moderate]]s to become [[Patriot]]-[[Prepper]] [[conservatives]] as evidenced by numerous programs such as [[Doomsday Preppers]] and other similar "[[survivalist]]" [[reality TV]] shows and the massive popularity of [[The Survival Blog]] with over 80 millions unique visits since 2005.

These events greatly worsened the already out-of-control [[liberal]] [[Welfare state]] leading to a [[socialist]] [[Nanny state]] and now under the [[Obama Administration]]'s [[ObamaCare]] and increasing irrelevance of the [[Bill of Rights]]-[[Constitution]], there is a budding [[Police state]]. This situation has caused many ordinary citizens, including those who formerly thought of themselves as [[moderate]]s to become [[Patriot]]-[[Prepper]] [[conservatives]] as evidenced by numerous programs such as Doomsday Preppers and other similar "survivalist" [[reality TV]] shows and the massive popularity of [[The Survival Blog]] with over 80 millions unique visits since 2005.

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Conservative values]] - [[traditional values]] - [[American values]] - [[Small town values]] - [[Family values]]

* [[Conservative values]] - [[traditional values]] - [[American values]] - [[Small town values]] - [[Family values]]

* [[Robert Taft]] - "Grand-daddy of the Conservative Movement"

* [[Robert Taft]] - "Grand-daddy of the Conservative Movement"

* [[William F. Buckley]] - The [[National Review]]

* [[William F. Buckley]] - The [[National Review]]

* [[Cleon Skousen]] - [[Anti-Communist]] best-selling author of [[The Naked Communist]]

* [[Cleon Skousen]] - [[Anti-Communist]] best-selling author of [[The Naked Communist]]

* [[Joel Skousen]] - [[World Affairs Brief]] and author of [[Strategic Relocation]]

* [[Joel Skousen]]

* [[Barry Goldwater]]

* [[Barry Goldwater]]

* [[Ronald Reagan]]

* [[Ronald Reagan]]

* [[Moral Majority]] Movement

* [[Moral Majority]] Movement

* [[Tea Party Movement]]

* [[Tea Party Movement]]

** [[American Redoubt]] political "[[Vote with your feet]]"

** [[American Redoubt]] political "[[Vote with your feet]]" migration movement of [[strategic relocation]]

** [[Free State Project]]

** [[Free State Project]]

** [[Free State Wyoming]]: [[Boston T. Party]]

** [[Free State Wyoming]]: [[Boston T. Party]]

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Conservatism]]

[[Category:Conservatism]]

[[Category:Libertarianism]]

[[Category:Libertarianism]]

[[Category:Anti-Communism]]

[[Category:Anti-Communism]]

[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]

[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]

[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]

[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]

[[Category:United States Political Movements]]

[[Category:United States Political Movements]]