The first signs of liberalism may be discovered in the expansive political role being sought by increasingly large numbers of individuals and, more significantly, discreet groups of people with identifiable common interests. Remember your investigation of the French Revolution?? John Locke expressed the principles of Liberalism in the British (and American) tradition. Lockes Two Treatises of Government constitutes a most important statement on the liberal political philosophy that has influenced politics today. At the center of his writings are basic values that today remain as under girding for the entire liberal view. Government exists to serve the people and community it governs. The French Revolution remarks the Initial successes that the liberal movements had, as the name itself implies, a fundamental purpose of the revolution: to liberate people (The 3 rd Estate) from oppression.

In Europe by the late 19th Century and in the United States by the early 20th Century liberalism began to shift its emphasis from protecting individuals from oppressive governments to using government as a device to enable individuals to achieve a more meaningful and rewarding life. Government was seen as a positive force in shaping human affairs and society, but only if it was used properly and controlled by the people. Liberalism had come to recognize that powerful institutions in society had to be controlled and regulated by the instrument of the people if true liberation was to occur.

Conservatism developed as a reaction to what was perceived as dangerous tendencies within the liberal movements toward radicalism Respect for authority, custom, and tradition permeate a conservative value system. Sir Edmund Burke - Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790). Expelled an intense opposition to and condemnation of the French Revolution as destructive to French society Believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense.

Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.

Families know best how to raise their children. They need to be strengthened and have the right to raise their children the way they want. It takes a village not a family to raise a child. Families need government help and oversight. Society is composed of individuals to be judged on their individual merit. Values individualism, self-reliance, and independence. Sees society as composed of groups: black vs. white, old vs. young, rich vs. poor, male vs. female. These groups are pitted against each other. Stirs up racial and class envy and division. Which One Is It? Liberal or Conservative? Liberal Conservative Liberal

Individuals are responsible for themselves and their actions. Crime should be punished. Evil exists and good should fight against it. Man is capable of good and evil. Seeks to equalize by redistribution. Supports welfare state. Government has a responsibility to provide all basic needs to all who need them, and it is morally justified taking from those that have and giving it to others, because people are entitled to basic needs including housing, food, healthcare, and education. Opportunity for all to succeed or fail. Government is responsible to maintain an environment that fosters the greatest opportunity. Limit to how much can be taken from people to give to others. Welfare should help people to become independent and given to those truly incapable of taking care of themselves. Society is responsible for individuals. Man is inherently good and something causes him to do wrong. They talk about how we need to change society when someone does wrong. Even terrorists need to be understood. Liberal Conservative

Promotes equal justice. Competition is good Promotes social justice. Competition is unfair. Supports lower taxes. Supports progressive taxation with high taxes for the rich Less government is better. Wants only necessary regulation of business, economy, and individual lives, resulting in more freedom. More government is better. Many regulations are necessary to achieve a more fair & just society which is governments primary role, resulting in less freedom. Liberal Conservative