Conservatism in the United States

Conservatism in the United States is one of two major political ideologies in the United States, with the other being liberalism. Traditional American conservatism is characterized by a belief in individualism, traditionalism, capitalism, republicanism, and limited federal governmental power in relation to U.S. states,^[1] although 21st century developments have shifted it towards right-wing populist themes.^[2]

American conservatives maintain support from the Christian right and its interpretation of Christian values and moral absolutism,^[3]^[4] while generally opposing abortion, euthanasia, and some LGBT rights.^[5] They tend to favor economic liberalism,^[6]^[7] and are generally pro-business and pro-capitalism,^[8]^[9] while opposing communism and labor unions.^[10]^[11]^[12] Recent shifts have moved it towards national conservatism,^[13] protectionism,^[14] cultural conservatism, and a more realist foreign policy.^[2]

Conservatives often advocate for strong national defense, gun rights, capital punishment, and a defense of Western culture from perceived threats posed by communism, Islamism, and moral relativism.^[15]^[16] Some American conservatives may question epidemiology, anthropogenic climate change, and evolution more frequently than moderates or liberals.^[17]^[18]^[19]

^ Frohnen, Bruce; Beer, Jeremy; Jeffrey, Nelson (2014). American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia. Intercollegiate Studies Institute. ISBN 9781497651579. The conservative veneration of individual autonomy...
^ ^a ^b Ashbee, Edward; Waddan, Alex (December 13, 2023). "US Republicans and the New Fusionism". The Political Quarterly. 95: 148–156. doi:10.1111/1467-923X.13341. ISSN 1467-923X.
^ Cite error: The named reference Oxford UP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Farmer, Brian (2005). American Conservatism: History, Theory and Practice. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 978-1904303541. To traditional conservatives, there most definitely are moral absolutes and they can most definitely and definitively identify those moral absolutes.
^ Cite error: The named reference jillson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Davenport, David; Lloyd, Gordon (2013). The New Deal & Modern American Conservatism: A Defining Rivalry (eBook ed.). Hoover Institution Press. ISBN 9780817916862.
^ O'Neill, Johnathan; Postell, Joseph W., eds. (2013). Toward an American Conservatism: Constitutional Conservatism During the Progressive Era (eBook ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137300966.
^ Hoover, Kenneth R. (April 1987). "The Rise of Conservative Capitalism: Ideological Tensions within the Reagan and Thatcher Governments". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 29 (2): 245–268. doi:10.1017/S0010417500014493. ISSN 1475-2999. S2CID 145076916. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ Paul, Murschetz (2013). State Aid for Newspapers: Theories. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 64. ISBN 978-3642356902.
^ Howison, Jeffrey D. (February 2018). "The Historical Origins and Contemporary Dynamics of Conservatism in the United States: Anticommunism, the New Class Critique, and the Environment". Political Studies Review. 16 (1): 13–24. doi:10.1177/1478929915611918. ISSN 1478-9299. S2CID 148367886.
^ Heineman, Kenneth J. (2018). The Rise of Contemporary Conservatism in the United States (eBook ed.). New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429456442. ISBN 9780429456442. S2CID 159281982.
^ Sexton, Patricia Cayo (2019) [1991]. The War on Labor and the Left: Understanding America's Unique Conservatism (eBook ed.). New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429492716. ISBN 9780429492716.
^ Cite error: The named reference Economist 02152024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Economist 10262023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Pilbeam, Bruce (2003). Anglo-American Conservative Ideology After the Cold War. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 100. ISBN 978-0333997659. For most conservatives, if there is a common culprit in explaining society's descent into moral chaos, then it is relativism—the notion that there are no absolute values or standards, merely different interpretations, and perspectives.
^ Critchlow, Donald (2009). Debating the American Conservative Movement: 1945 to the Present. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 15. ISBN 978-0742548244. Conservatives had a fear of Communism shared by most Americans. During this time a popular anti-Communist culture emerged in America, evident in movies, television programs, community activities, and grassroots organizations. This popular anti-Communist culture generated patriotic rallies, parades, city resolutions, and an array of anti—Communist groups concerned about Communist influence in the schools, textbooks, churches, labor unions, industry, and universities.
^ Oreskes, Naomi (June 1, 2021). "The Reason Some Republicans Mistrust Science: Their Leaders Tell Them To". Scientific American. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ Hofer, Barbara; Sinatra, Gale (August 19, 2021). Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190944681.001.0001. ISBN 9780190944711. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^ Jones, Jeffrey (August 20, 2021). "Study: Evolution now accepted by majority of Americans". University of Michigan News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[1] Frohnen, Bruce; Beer, Jeremy; Jeffrey, Nelson (2014). American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia. Intercollegiate Studies Institute. ISBN 9781497651579. The conservative veneration of individual autonomy...

[New_Fusionism-2] Ashbee, Edward; Waddan, Alex (December 13, 2023). "US Republicans and the New Fusionism". The Political Quarterly. 95: 148–156. doi:10.1111/1467-923X.13341. ISSN 1467-923X.

[Oxford_UP-3] Cite error: The named reference Oxford UP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] Farmer, Brian (2005). American Conservatism: History, Theory and Practice. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 978-1904303541. To traditional conservatives, there most definitely are moral absolutes and they can most definitely and definitively identify those moral absolutes.

[jillson-5] Cite error: The named reference jillson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[6] Davenport, David; Lloyd, Gordon (2013). The New Deal & Modern American Conservatism: A Defining Rivalry (eBook ed.). Hoover Institution Press. ISBN 9780817916862.

[7] O'Neill, Johnathan; Postell, Joseph W., eds. (2013). Toward an American Conservatism: Constitutional Conservatism During the Progressive Era (eBook ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137300966.

[8] Hoover, Kenneth R. (April 1987). "The Rise of Conservative Capitalism: Ideological Tensions within the Reagan and Thatcher Governments". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 29 (2): 245–268. doi:10.1017/S0010417500014493. ISSN 1475-2999. S2CID 145076916. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[9] Paul, Murschetz (2013). State Aid for Newspapers: Theories. Springer Science+Business Media. p. 64. ISBN 978-3642356902.

[10] Howison, Jeffrey D. (February 2018). "The Historical Origins and Contemporary Dynamics of Conservatism in the United States: Anticommunism, the New Class Critique, and the Environment". Political Studies Review. 16 (1): 13–24. doi:10.1177/1478929915611918. ISSN 1478-9299. S2CID 148367886.

[11] Heineman, Kenneth J. (2018). The Rise of Contemporary Conservatism in the United States (eBook ed.). New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429456442. ISBN 9780429456442. S2CID 159281982.

[12] Sexton, Patricia Cayo (2019) [1991]. The War on Labor and the Left: Understanding America's Unique Conservatism (eBook ed.). New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429492716. ISBN 9780429492716.

[Economist_02152024-13] Cite error: The named reference Economist 02152024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Economist_10262023-14] Cite error: The named reference Economist 10262023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[15] Pilbeam, Bruce (2003). Anglo-American Conservative Ideology After the Cold War. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 100. ISBN 978-0333997659. For most conservatives, if there is a common culprit in explaining society's descent into moral chaos, then it is relativism—the notion that there are no absolute values or standards, merely different interpretations, and perspectives.

[16] Critchlow, Donald (2009). Debating the American Conservative Movement: 1945 to the Present. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 15. ISBN 978-0742548244. Conservatives had a fear of Communism shared by most Americans. During this time a popular anti-Communist culture emerged in America, evident in movies, television programs, community activities, and grassroots organizations. This popular anti-Communist culture generated patriotic rallies, parades, city resolutions, and an array of anti—Communist groups concerned about Communist influence in the schools, textbooks, churches, labor unions, industry, and universities.

[17] Oreskes, Naomi (June 1, 2021). "The Reason Some Republicans Mistrust Science: Their Leaders Tell Them To". Scientific American. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[18] Hofer, Barbara; Sinatra, Gale (August 19, 2021). Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190944681.001.0001. ISBN 9780190944711. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

[19] Jones, Jeffrey (August 20, 2021). "Study: Evolution now accepted by majority of Americans". University of Michigan News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

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