Conservatism in the United States

Conservatism in the United States is a tradition that leans toward the right side of politics. It has been an important part of American life for over a hundred years, often linked with the Republican Party. This tradition values individual freedom, respect for long-standing customs, and a strong belief in free markets and business.

People who support this view often come from Christian backgrounds and believe in strong family values. They usually support laws that protect these values and may have specific views on topics like marriage and life.

Conservatives also tend to believe in a strong national defense, the right to own guns, and protecting the culture and traditions of the West. They may have different ideas from others about topics like climate change and how society should change over time.

Overview

In the United States, conservatism looks different from how it is seen in places like Europe. After the American Revolution, Americans chose not to follow European ideas such as landed nobility, hereditary monarchy, established churches, and big armies.

Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, whose phrase "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", is viewed as a foundational guiding principle by most American conservatives.

Conservatives in the United States value individual liberty and believe in a balance between the federal government and states' rights. They often support strong action for national defense and law enforcement, but they prefer less government involvement in areas like healthcare and the environment. Many social conservatives have strong beliefs about topics such as abortion and same-sex marriage. In schools, they may support prayer in public schools and school choice.

American conservatism is based on ideas like republicanism, which means rejecting rule by kings or nobles. Conservatives often look to important documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution for guidance. They also value economic freedom and deregulation, following ideas from older times. The Republican Party has been closely linked with conservatism since the 1950s, though earlier conservative ideas were also found in groups like the Southern Democrats.

History

Main article: History of conservatism in the United States

Russell Kirk, whose 1953 book The Conservative Mind traced the origins of American conservativism to the philosophy of Edmund Burke and the Anglo-American tradition

American conservatism has been a strong idea in the country's politics, especially with the Republican Party. It values ideas like freedom, laws that treat everyone fairly, and respect for the country's founding principles. During the American Revolution, many Americans felt they needed to break away from British America to truly live by these ideas.

In the 20th century, American conservatism grew as a way to react against new and sometimes risky ideas from Europe. Today, it continues to focus on trusting tried-and-true ways of thinking and doing things, believing that new changes can often bring problems.

Types

Conservative leaders in the United States have not always represented a single school of thought, and American conservatism has evolved since it began emerging in the 1950s as one of the nation's predominant ideologies. Barry Goldwater, a U.S. Senator from Arizona, for instance, was an advocate for free enterprise in conservatism, which he made a centerpiece of his 1964 presidential campaign. Two decades later, in the 1980s, Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University and the Moral Majority, was primarily an advocate for traditional moral and religious social values. The history of American conservatism has also been marked by tensions and competing ideologies. During the Reagan era of the 1980s, a coalition of ideologies, known as "the Three Leg Stool" or "Fusionism", emerged, including three distinct segments of American conservatives: social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and war hawks.

As of the 21st century, American conservatism includes several varying ideological schools of thought, though conservatives on the whole often embrace all or several of these schools. They include:

Constitutional conservatism

Main article: Constitutionalism in the United States

Constitutional conservatism, a form of conservatism bound by the U.S. Constitution, which defends the structures of constitutionalism and enumerated powers, and the preservation of the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Chief among those principles is the defense of liberty. This form of conservatism coalesced in the Republican Party in the early 20th century, in opposition to progressivism within the party; it can also be seen being influential to the 21st-century Tea Party movement. Constitutional conservatism has also been associated with judicial originalism.

Fiscal conservatism

Further information: Fiscal conservatism

Fiscal conservatism, a form of conservatism that focuses on low taxes and restrained government spending.
Libertarian conservatism, a fusion of fiscal conservatism with libertarianism. This type emphasizes a strict interpretation of the Constitution, particularly with regard to federal power. Libertarian conservatism is constituted by a broad, sometimes conflicted, coalition including pro-business social moderates, so-called "deficit hawks", those favoring more rigid enforcement of states' rights, individual liberty activists, and many of those who place their socially liberal ideology ahead of their fiscal beliefs. This mode of thinking tends to espouse laissez-faire economics and a critical view of the federal government, its surveillance programs and its foreign military interventions. Libertarian conservatives' emphasis on personal freedom often leads them to hold social positions contrary to those of social conservatives, especially on such issues as marijuana, abortion and gay marriage. Ron Paul and his son Rand Paul have been influential proponents in the Republican presidential contests while still maintaining many socially conservative values. Fiscal conservatives and libertarians favor capitalism, individualism, limited government, and laissez-faire economics. They advocate low taxes, free markets, deregulation, privatization, and reduced government spending and government debt.

Foreign policy and national security conservatism

Further information: National conservatism, Neoconservatism, and Paleoconservatism

National conservatism, a modern variant of conservatism and nationalism that concentrates on upholding national and cultural identity. Supporters of President Donald Trump break with this "conservative consensus, forged by Cold War politics" of "markets and moralism," The New Yorker reported in 2019. It seeks to preserve national interests, emphasizes American nationalism, strict law and order policies and social conservatism revolving around the nuclear family, opposes illegal immigration and laissez-faire or free market, economic policy in most cases. A 2019 political conference featuring "public figures, journalists, scholars, and students" dubbed this variety of conservatism "National Conservatism". Critics allege its adherents are merely attempting to wrest "a coherent ideology out of the chaos of the Trumpist moment".
Neoconservatism, a modern form of conservatism that supports a more assertive, interventionist foreign policy aimed at promoting democracy abroad. It is tolerant of an activist government at home but is focused mostly on international affairs. Neoconservatism was first described by a group of disaffected liberals, including Irving Kristol, who defined a neoconservative as "a liberal who was mugged by reality." Although originally regarded as an approach to domestic policy, neoconservatism was ultimately embraced as a national security and foreign policy ideology and was embraced by Dick Cheney, Robert Kagan, Richard Perle, Kenneth Adelman, Irving Kristol's son Bill, and others. It was predominant in the foreign policy of George W. Bush administration's Middle East policies, which relied on aggressive military force following the September 11 attacks and which the Bush administration viewed as protecting American interests and promoting democracy. Neoconservatives largely seek to expand American ideals globally.
Paleoconservatism, in part, a rebirth of the Old Right arising in the 1980s in reaction to neoconservatism. Paleoconservatives advocate restrictions on immigration, non-interventionist foreign policy, and opposition to multiculturalism. Most conservative factions nationwide, except some libertarians, support a unilateral foreign policy and a strong military. Most, especially libertarians, support gun ownership rights, citing the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The conservative movement of the 1950s attempted to bring together these divergent strands, stressing the need for unity to prevent the spread of "godless communism". It stresses tradition, especially Christian tradition and the importance to society of the traditional family. Some such as Samuel P. Huntington argue that multiracial, multiethnic, and egalitarian states are inherently unstable. Paleoconservatives are generally isolationist, and suspicious of foreign influence. The magazines Chronicles and The American Conservative are generally considered to be paleoconservative in nature.

Social conservatism

Main article: Social conservatism in the United States

Christian conservatism, whose proponents are primarily Christian fundamentalists focused on the traditional nuclear family rooted in religion. Typical positions include the view that the United States was founded as a Christian nation rather than a secular one and that abortion should be restricted or outlawed. Many attack the profanity and sexuality prevalent in modern media and society and often oppose LGBT rights while supporting abstinence-only sex education. This faction strongly supported Reagan in the 1980 election. They intensely opposed Reagan's 1981 nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court because she supported a woman's right to abortion. However, she was confirmed unanimously.
Related to Christian conservatism is social conservatism, which focuses on the preservation of traditional moral values, often rooted in the nuclear family and religion, that they see as threatened by secularism and moral relativism. They tend to support prayer in public schools and school vouchers for religious schools, while opposing abortion and LGBT rights.

Others

Traditionalist conservatism, a form of conservatism in opposition to rapid change in political and social institutions. This kind of conservatism is anti-ideological insofar as it emphasizes means (slow change) over ends (any particular form of government). To the traditionalist, whether one arrives at a right- or left-wing government is less important than whether change is effected through rule of law rather than through revolution and utopian schemes.
Blue Dog Coalition ideology is the set of values and policies held by most conservative Democrats and the coalition that represents them. The Blue Dog Coalition and conservative Democrats in general have steadily declined as a share of the Democratic Party over time.

Ideology and political philosophy

William F. Buckley Jr., an author who founded National Review magazine in 1955. "Among our convictions: It is the job of centralized government (in peacetime) to protect its citizens' lives, liberty and property. All other activities of government tend to diminish freedom and hamper progress," Buckley wrote in the magazine's first issue.

American conservatism is a political belief that has been linked to the Republican Party since the early 1900s. It emphasizes ideas like individualism, traditional values, free markets, and limited government power.

Conservatives often support free markets and less government control over the economy. They believe that lower taxes and less regulation help create jobs and grow the economy. In foreign policy, many conservatives strongly support a strong national defense and promoting democracy around the world. Social conservatives focus on protecting traditional family values and often support policies that reflect religious morals. The ideas of leaders like Ronald Reagan continue to shape conservative politics today.

21st-century policies

Some of the big changes in American conservative ideas in recent years include the rise of Donald Trump and new styles of thinking called right-wing populism. These ideas often go against older ways of thinking, like free trade and open borders, and focus more on national identity and culture. Social media has also changed how people share and hear about these ideas.

President Donald Trump (2017–2021, 2025–present)

Conservatives often care a lot about the environment, but they have different views on how to handle it. Some believe that government rules to fight climate change might do more harm than good, and they prefer solutions like market-based policies. Others support conservation efforts and have been part of creating important protections in the past. There are different opinions among conservatives about how much the government should get involved in these issues.

When it comes to laws and order, conservatives usually support strong policies to keep crime down. They often believe in long jail terms for repeat offenders and support the death penalty for very serious crimes. They also tend to support strict immigration policies, focusing on reducing illegal entry and increasing deportations.

Russell Kirk, conservative theorist and author of The Conservative Mind, published in 1953

In economics, conservatives often believe that the government should not play a big role in managing the economy or helping the poor through welfare programs. They support free markets and private businesses, and many are against universal health care, preferring private health care options instead. Some conservatives also support protectionist policies to protect American jobs and businesses from foreign competition.

On social issues, many conservatives hold strong views about traditional family values. They often oppose changes to traditional views on family, sexuality, and gender roles. This includes views on topics like abortion, same-sex marriage, and transgender rights. Different groups within conservatism focus more on economic policies rather than social issues.

In terms of race and culture, many conservatives believe that America is not a racist country and oppose programs like affirmative action, which they see as unfair because they focus on group identity rather than individual achievement. They often support traditional American culture and assimilation into a common culture, rather than celebrating many different cultures separately.

Conservatives sometimes react strongly to liberal ideas, aiming to protect what they see as important values threatened by liberal changes. They focus on defending families, traditional religion, local communities, and artistic greatness against what they see as negative effects of liberalism.

Electoral politics

According to a 2025 Gallup poll, 37% of American voters see themselves as "conservative" or "very conservative," 34% as "moderate," and 25% as "liberal" or "very liberal." For Republicans, 77% call themselves conservative, 18% moderate, and 4% liberal. For Democrats, 9% are conservative, 34% moderate, and 55% liberal.

In recent years, conservatism has grown stronger in many states, especially in areas with fewer opportunities and less education. The Republican Party has been linked with conservatism since the mid-1960s. During this time, many people in the South changed from supporting the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

Geography

Alaska, the South, the Great Plains, and parts of the Mountain states and Midwest often support conservative views. In Mississippi, for example, about half of people say they are conservative. The Northeast, parts of the Great Lakes region, the Southwest, and the West Coast tend to have more liberal views, with Massachusetts having only 21% calling themselves conservative.

In the United States today, rural areas with many people who are Christian and do not have college degrees are usually conservative. In contrast, people living in big city centers often have more liberal views. This creates a clear difference between urban and rural political views across the country.

Historiography

Historians have been looking at how conservatism has shaped America’s history in new ways. Some believe that conservatism has been a strong force since the 1920s, with only short breaks during big changes like the New Deal in the 1930s and the Great Society in the 1960s. Others think conservatism wasn’t as strong or united as many believe. Even so, conservatives have made big changes in areas like cutting taxes and changing rules for businesses.

American exceptionalism

Main article: American exceptionalism

Many conservatives believe in American exceptionalism, the idea that the United States has a special role in promoting freedom and free markets around the world. This belief comes from values like liberty, individualism, and republicanism that grew from the American Revolution. Some leaders, like Ronald Reagan, have talked about America as a “shining city upon a hill,” meaning a good example for others to follow.

City upon a Hill

Main article: City upon a Hill

The idea of a “city upon a hill” comes from a story told by Jesus and was used by early settlers in Massachusetts. They thought America was different and free from problems that other countries faced. Ronald Reagan also used this phrase in a speech, reminding people of America’s important role.

Notable individuals

Further information: List of American conservatives

John Trumbull's 1792 portrait of John Adams, a key architect of the American Revolution, a delegate to the revolutionary Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and the second president of the United States

In 1956, Clinton Rossiter, a professor at Cornell University, wrote about important figures in American conservatism. He called them the "giants of American conservatism" and included leaders like John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and Theodore Roosevelt. Rossiter also mentioned George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as important, even though they didn't fit neatly into any one group.

Later leaders such as Grover Cleveland and Dwight D. Eisenhower helped shape conservatism to fit changing times. Rossiter thought others like Robert A. Taft might also be important in the future.