Conservatism Ideology

(History.com) This quote

Before the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, liberalism and conservatism were two big ideologies in European society; many citizens were fighting towards liberalism while some were still standing behind conservatism. Meanwhile, many individuals, along with several organizations, were moving closer towards socialist ideals. Socialism’s role in society during the nineteenth and twentieth century changed how various thinkers approached the issues of labor, production, and property.

We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and the future- Frederick Douglass.

Conservatism, traditional or new, was one of the most powerful ideologies in Europe. Otto von Bismarck practiced a new form of conservatism because he advocated for lower class, religious freedoms, and socialized the education system. This new form of conservatism received backlash by most other political groups.

Many philosophers and theorists have spoken on the value, or lack thereof, of revolution. In Second Treatise of Government, John Locke builds the concept of a “social contract,” which outlines responsibilities of the government and what can be done if the state fails to uphold its duties.  Edmund Burke views political rebellion in a different light. He writes in Reflections on the Revolution in France that upheaval does excessive harm to the state, and, by extension, the people. While both Locke and Burke agree that rebellion is useful to the growth of a state, they differ on a few main points. First, they disagree in terms of what circumstances warrant revolution. Second, they each believe it should take different forms and work to different extents. Finally, Locke and Burke believe revolution tends to have positive or negative effects, respectively. Their views on each of these points will be discussed in turn.

(Davies, 1997) Conservatives are mostly for preserving the society instead of a takeover, which emphasizes stability.(McLean and McMillan, 2009) Viscourt Hailsham a former chairman of the British Conservative Party described conservatism. "Conservatism is not so much a philosophy as an attitude, a constant force, performing a timeless function in the development of a free society, and corresponding to a deep and permanent requirement of human nature itself."(Hailsham, 1959)

Edmund Burke published the Reflections on the Revolution in France in 1790; after the Bastille had been stormed by the Paris mol. He reflects upon about how France was very chaotic. Burke opposed the values of his contemporary revolutionaries; and he predicted that the French revolution would cause problems of fear and chaos to the country. Burke also believed that the revolutionary leaders were more interested in themselves and that they wanted power, however; and really did not care about the well-being of the French people. He believed in the concepts of liberty, equality and the right for everyone; he argues that people should have the opportunity to own their private property. Furthermore, Burke viewed the revolution as a violent takeover of the government, emphasizing that citizens should not have the right to do this. He also argues about importance of tradition in that tradition is what holds society together.

What I find ironically funny is the statement quote used for this essay topic, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it”. This is something our government needs to take heed to, because they are the ones repeating history. Right now as we speak banks are again selling houses to people that cannot really afford the payments, they are signing contracts without reading the fine print of the balloon rates that are going to make it impossible to keep their

What is conservatism? Conservatism are views that are against the ideas of liberalism and socialism. A conservative person believes in independence, a free market government and they believe in taking responsibility for your own success. About 40 % of American

Conservatism is defined as the belief in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society (Merriam-Webster). Another definition of it is the dislike of change or new ideas in a particular area (Merriam-Webster). So most of their policies are rooted in tradition and history, generally keeping things the way they have been in the past. Another one of the ideologies they have in their party's Fiscal Conservatism this means they are pro-big businesses and think you should have low income taxes and also they want to deregulate the economy (Justin Quinn). From this economic ideology it goes hand and hand with their main stance on making a smaller government to control less of your life. Also they generally would rather keep things the same than changing

Edmund Burke was a political theorist and statesman. During this time period a lot of changes were taking place all around the globe including the French Revolution. In 1790 Burke began writing his Reflections on the Revolution in France in the form of a letter addressed to “Intend to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris” to share his point on the issues that were going on. After completion of his writing it quickly became popular selling thirteen thousand copies in the first five weeks and later having gone through eleven editions within the first year. Today Reflections has become a very important piece that helped voice the people during that time and has said to be “the most eloquent statement of British conservatism favoring monarchy,

The French Revolution influenced Burke in many way, we can see how his life evolved by his opposition to the revolution. In the text he says “The French Revolution is the most astonishing that has hitherto happened in the world.” (Punchner) We later see that true, he thought that the revolution was monumental, he also opposed it. He spoke so plainly and openly about his thoughts on how government should work that he was seen as a visionary in his time. Even though he lived in England he had no problem with speaking out about the French Revolution. He was moved by the idea that social change was not only inevitable but desirable.

Edmund Burke, acclaimed philosopher and politician, dedicated his classic work of modern conservatism, Reflections on the Revolution in France, to emphasize on the outrageous destruction of society’s institution by the French revolutionaries and the threat their unyielding democracy imposes on society and tradition. Indeed, Burke’s philosophy seems to be influenced greatly by his personal view of history and moral sense, which, to some extent, has been a hindrance to my understanding of his thread of philosophy. However, I have attempted to grasp as much from and delve as deep into this book of revolution and conservatism.

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work

Liberalism and conservatism have been political ideas and thoughts from the very birth of our democracy. Their views and points of the government's role in a democratic society have changed over the years, but the basic ideas and principles have remained the same. There are many different degrees of liberalism and conservatism as almost anyone can be labeled. Some individuals are radical and extreme while others stand on more of a neutral territory, but the debates between the understood ideas of each group have continued throughout the history of the United States. We will take liberalism's Gary Doore and conservatism's Irving Kristol as modern day examples and compare and contrast the