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A conservative is typically someone who believes in limited government, personal responsibility, free markets and a strong national defense.
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The Basics of Conservatism
Conservatives in the United States believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Fiscal conservatism, social conservatism and national conservatism are the main types of conservatism in the United States.
The definition of conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy promoting traditional social institutions in the context of culture and civilization. The central tenets of conservatism include tradition, organic society, hierarchy, authority, and property rights. Conservatives seek to preserve a range of institutions such as religion, parliamentary government, and property rights, with the aim of emphasizing stability and continuity as opposed to revolutionary change.
The first established use of the term in a political context originated in 1818 with François-René de Chateaubriand during the Bourbon Restoration. Traditionally, conservatives have believed in maintaining class hierarchies, strong religious establishments, and a certain degree of deference to traditional leaders. Edmund Burke, an influential critic of the French Revolution who served in the British House of Commons from 1765–1794, is considered one of the fathers of conservatism for his opposition to radical change on the grounds that it lacks grounding in tradition and would upset long-standing social institutions.
Other early figures important in the development of conservatism include Joseph de Maistre, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Alexis de Tocqueville, Wilhelm Röpke, Friedrich Hayek, Irving Kristol, Samuel Pufendorf and Robert Nisbet. In Britain after World War II,[when?] conservatism changed under the influence of people such asminded like Margaret Thatcher (the first female Prime Minister) who advocated economic liberalism while remaining critical of socialism.
The history of conservatism
The history of conservatism in the United States goes back to the American Revolution, when conservatives such as George Washington and John Adams advocated for a limited role for government and a reverence for traditional institutions and values. In the 19th century, conservatives such as John C. Calhoun and Abraham Lincoln argued against expanding the federal government’s power, while progressives such as Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson pushed for a more active government that would address the needs of all Americans. In the 20th century, conservatism evolved into a political philosophy that emphasized free enterprise, limited government, and individual liberty. Prominent conservatives such as William F. Buckley, Jr. and Ronald Reagan built a vibrant conservative movement that continues to shape American politics today.
The Principles of Conservatism
Conservatism in the United States is a set of political philosophies and moral values that stresses limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a strong national defense. American conservatives generally believe in lower taxes, limited government regulation, stronger families and traditional social values.
Individualism
-Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual.
-Individualists promote the exercise of one’s goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance and advocate that interests of the individual should achieve precedence over the state or a social group, while opposing external interference upon one’s own interests by society or institutions such as the government.
Limited government
Small government is a core principle of conservatism. Many conservatives believe that the government should do less, and that individuals and private institutions are more effective at solving problems.
Conservatives also tend to be suspicious of government power. They worry that Concentrations of power – in the hands of the government or any other institution – can be abused. For this reason, conservatives generally favor a decentralized government, with power spread among different institutions and levels of government.
limited government, conservatives argue, is essential to protecting individual freedom. They believe that when the government tries to do too much, it infringes on individuals’ rights to live their lives as they see fit.
Free markets
One of the key principles of conservatism is a belief in free markets. Conservatives believe that the free market is the most efficient way to allocate resources and create wealth. This differs from liberals who often advocate for more government intervention in the economy.
Conservatives also tend to be supportive of free trade. They believe that free trade leads to increased economic growth and prosperity. This is in contrast to protectionism, which is the belief that countries should limit imports and exports in order to protect domestic industries.
Traditional values
Conservatives believe in traditional values and institutions. They support religion, the family, and marriage. They believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, and a strong national defense. They are skeptical of big government and oppose high taxes and regulations.
The Conservative Party in the USA
The Conservative Party in the USA is a political party that stands for lower taxes, less government regulation, and a strong national defense. The party also supports traditional values such as marriage and family. The Conservative Party is the largest political party in the United States.
The Republican Party
The Republican Party, also commonly called the GOP (short for “Grand Old Party”), is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists and modernizers, the Republican Party rose to prominence in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln, who used the party machinery to support victory in the American Civil War and consequent abolition of slavery. The party controlled the federal government for most of the period from 1861 to 1933, first as a majority party and then as a divided party, with a liberal wing based in urban America and a conservative wing based in rural America. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican president (1861– 1865).
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt formed the Progressive (“Bull Moose”) Party after being rejected for renomination by his own party; he ran against his successor William Howard Taft and lost. The Republican Party was split apart again in 1946 when many members left to join the newly formed American People’s Party under President Harry S Truman. Beginning with Dwight Eisenhower in 1952, every Republican president elected until 1992 was from either California or Texas. In 1964, Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign helped pave the way for Ronald Reagan’s election as governor of California four years later and then as President of the United States in 1980.
The Tea Party
The Tea Party movement is a political movement that arose within the conservative wing of the Republican Party in the United States during the Barack Obama presidency. The movement’s name refers to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, when colonists protested against British taxes by dumping tea into Boston Harbor. The protesters in this instance were angry about what they perceived as high taxes and government overreach.
The Tea Party movement met with early success, helping to elect a number of conservative candidates to office in the 2010 midterm elections. However, its influence has waned in recent years, and it is now widely seen as a fringe group within the Republican Party.
The Freedom Caucus
The Freedom Caucus is a group of House Republicans who are considered to be the most conservative members of the party. The caucus was formed in 2015, and its members have often been at odds with party leadership on issues like healthcare and spending.
Famous Conservative Politicians in the USA
There are many famous conservative politicians in the USA. Some of them are: Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, and Ted Cruz. These politicians have made a significant impact on the political landscape of the United States.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Before his presidency, he was a Hollywood actor and union leader.
Reagan was raised in a poor family in small towns of northern Illinois. He graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and worked as a sports announcer on several regional radio stations. After moving to California in 1937, he found work as an actor in Hollywood. His film career spans over 55 years, including roles in Bedtime for Bonzo (1951), General Electric Theater (1953–1954), Hellcats of the Navy (1957), Knute Rockne—All American (1940), Murder in Coweta County (1983), Reagan often played roles that supported anti-communist positions.
Reagan served as president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 1947 to 1952 and as president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) from 1966 to 1971. He was a member of the Republican Party and campaigned for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s successful presidential candidacy in 1952. In 1964, Reagan rose to prominence within the party as a leading conservative spokesperson during Barry Goldwater’s unsuccessful presidential campaign. Following retirement from acting in 1964, he became more active in politics and was elected governor of California twice, serving from 1967 to 1975 and again from 1979 to 1983.
George W. Bush
George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States (2001–09), who led his country’s response to the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and initiated the Iraq War in 2003. He was defeated in his bid for reelection in 2008 by Democrat Barack Obama.
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is the 45th and current president of the United States. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality.
Trump was born and raised in the New York City borough of Queens and received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He took charge of his family’s real estate business in 1971, renamed it The Trump Organization, and expanded its operations from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. He managed the company until his 2017 inauguration as president. He co-authored several books, including The Art of the Deal. He owned the Miss Universe and Miss USA beauty pageants from 1996 to 2015, and he produced and hosted The Apprentice, a reality television show, from 2003 to 2015. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $3.1 billion.
