Tag: Conservatism in the United States

Conservatism in the United States is a political and social philosophy characterized by respect for American traditions, republicanism, support for Christian values, moral universalism, pro-business, anti-labor union, anti-communism, pro-individualism, advocacy of American exceptionalism, and a defense of Western culture from the perceived threats posed by socialism, communism, and moral relativism.

As with all major American political parties, liberty is a core value. American conservatives generally consider individual liberty—within the bounds of American values—as the fundamental trait of democracy; this perspective contrasts with that of modern American liberals, who generally place a greater value on equality and social justice and emphasize the need for state intervention to achieve these goals. American political conservatives believe in limiting government in size and scope, and in a balance between national government and states’ rights. Apart from some right-libertarians, they tend to favor strong action in areas they believe to be within government’s legitimate jurisdiction, particularly national defense and law enforcement. Social conservatives often oppose abortion, same-sex marriage, and civil unions, and would define marriage as only between a man and a woman. They favor Christian prayer in public schools and government funding for Christian schools