Conservatism in the American Political

¶ … conservatism in the American political landscape. As most students of political science and government know, American conservatism has altered drastically since the end of World War II. What is the cause of this alteration, and where is American conservatism headed in the future? American conservatism will continue to grow and change in the future, with new political and spiritual leaders emerging to lead the American conservative movement toward the future and its continued goals of fiscal, moral, and religious conservatism throughout the country and its political system.

What exactly is American conservatism? The answer is surprisingly complex. Some may believe American conservatism represents the right-minded politicians of the country, including the current administration, but in reality, American conservatism is far more intricate than that. In fact, conservatism is more than just governmental and political affiliations. Other forms of conservatism include fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, libertarianism, and religious conservatism. Then, there are the different arms of conservatism, such as traditional conservatism and neo-conservatism. In addition, most conservatives carry a core set of values that includes states' rights, military support, and less government involvement in most aspects of American life. However, conservatism applies to many aspects of American life, but still tends to be thought of mostly in religious and/or political contexts.

Americans tend to me more conservative than many other nations, which may be surprising to many people. Writer Christine Haines notes, "Even when compared to the citizens of Great Britain, America's closest ally, Americans are markedly more conservative on a variety of political, moral, and social issues. For example, only 17% of the British are against legalized abortion while 46% of Americans oppose it" (Haines). There are some inherent differences between Great Britain and the U.S. when it comes to core governmental beliefs, as well. In America, about 60% of people believe the government needs to grant them the freedom to follow their own goals, and then get out of the way. In Great Britain, about 60% of the people believe it is the government's job to provide for the less fortunate in society (Haines), which is a fundamental difference between the conservative and liberal point-of-view. In addition, America is a more religious nation than most other nations on earth, which also helps keep it grounded in conservative beliefs. Many experts believe this religious nature adds to the American work ethic, and thus helps the economy grow and prosper. Capitalism is also associated with conservatism, and since America has never had a real socialistic movement against capitalism, it has retained its conservative roots as the country's economic growth has continued (Haines).

Leaders in American Conservatism

Throughout American history, there have always been conservative viewpoints that countered ideas that are more liberal. One of the 20th century's most well-known conservatives is Leo Strauss. A writer says of him, "One opponent has contended that Strauss is the 'godfather' of American neo-conservatism, a version of conservatism which has taken hold in American politics since the 1970s" (Havers). Strauss influenced many other conservatives and their beliefs, and led a group that became known as the "neo-conservatives," who shaped American conservative thought throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

Another important conservative who helped shape American 20th century conservatism was Willmoore Kendall, a student and fan of Strauss. Kendall was a populist by nature, but many of his views coincided closely with those of Strauss. Writer Grant Havers continues, "Kendall was confident that his own understanding of American conservatism -- as populist -- was the only possible conservatism for his nation" (Havers). Kendall also believed that the American people, combined with their faith in God, could keep the government and the nation in order (Havers).

Russell Kirk is often considered the father of modern American conservatism. He wrote a book titled "The Conservative Mind," which outlined the six basic canons of conservative American thought. He writes,

These canons can be summarized as follows: (1) "[b]elief in a transcendent order, or body of natural law, which rules society as well as conscience;" (2) attachment to diversity in human lives and social relations "as opposed to the narrowing uniformity, egalitarianism, and utilitarian aims of most radical systems;" (3) "[c]onviction that civilized society requires orders and classes, as against the notion of a 'classless society;'" (4) respect for private property as a bastion of liberty; (5) trust in "custom, convention, and old prescription" as protections against both anarchy and tyranny; and (6) commitment to prudent change combined with opposition to hasty or overzealous reform (Frohnen).

Kirk forged a new bread of conservative during the 1950s, called the "New Conservatives." He believed, "What the world needed was a 'New Conservatism,' which would mediate between the evils created by laissez-faire capitalism and the irrational desires fed by revolutionary movements of the Right and Left" (Murphy 129). While conservatism may have altered in the years after World War II, conservatism actually has a varied and long history in the country. Kirk, (and many others), believe John Adams is the first real American conservative, even though that might be surprising to some. He also felt that even the American Revolution was in large part conservative in nature. Historian Bruce P. Frohnen quotes him as saying, "By and large, the American Revolution was not an innovating upheaval, but a conservative restoration of colonial prerogatives" (Frohnen). Thus, the country was built on conservative principles, and continues to live by these principles today.

Even after the industrial revolution, conservatism countered the radical changes that were occurring throughout society. Another historian writes, "Modernism and modernization were no longer deeply related; what was a radical conservatism was now southern traditionalism" (Murphy 5). This radical conservatism still exists in many areas of the American South, and is tied to religious, economic, and political conservatism in many ways. The South tends to be more conservative in their values and ideals, including stands on human rights, the military, and the ability to bear arms, while the far west and Northeast are often associated with more liberal values.

Historically, true conservatism has also carried the values of European aristocracy that marked the centuries before American colonization. This conservative movement valued royalty the aristocracy and attempted to defend it, the influence of landowners over the rest of the populace, and strong tied between church and state ("Conservatism"). While that may seem outmoded in today's definition of conservatism, in reality, those values still make up many of the conservatives political and social beliefs, especially in areas of deep conservatism. The revolutionary conservatives after World War II helped alter some of these values. The Columbia Encyclopedia notes, "Conservatism lost its predominantly agrarian and semifeudal bias, and accepted democratic suffrage, advocated economic laissez-faire, and opposed extension of the welfare state" ("Conservatism"). Perhaps one of the greatest practitioners of this more modern conservative outlook was President Ronald Reagan, who built much of his political platform on just these ideas. This platform has continued to thrive in America, and is one of the popular conservative platforms in the current presidential election. This resurgence in conservatism was predicted by Russell Kirk during his lifetime, and has helped create a resurgence in libertarianism and neo-conservatism that creates an even stronger conservative base in the county. Neo-conservatives believe in a stronger foreign policy, as well, and Vice-President Dick Cheney is one of the most well-known modern neo-conservatives represented today. Every conservative does not embrace every idea or tenet of conservatism, but they have enough ideas in common to be a strong political and social voice in the country and the government.