odern liberalism in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article discusses liberalism as that term is used in the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries. For the history and development of American liberalism, see Liberalism in the United States. For the origin and worldwide use of the term liberalism, see Liberalism.
Part of a series on
Liberalism
Yellow flag waving.svg
Schools[show]
Ideas[show]
Variants[show]
People[show]
Organizations[show]
Portal icon Liberalism portal
Portal icon Politics portal
v t e
Part of the Politics series on
Progressivism
Ideas
Idea of Progress
Scientific progress
Social progress
Economic development
Technological change
Linear history
History
Enlightenment
Industrial revolution
Modernity
Politics portal
v t e
Modern American liberalism is the dominant version of liberalism in the United States. It combines social liberalism with support for social justice and a mixed economy. American liberal causes include voting rights for minorities, reproductive rights for women, support for same-sex marriage, and government programs such as education and health care.[1] It has its roots in Theodore Roosevelt's New Nationalism, Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom, Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, Harry S. Truman's Fair Deal, John F. Kennedy's New Frontier, and Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society. Conservatives oppose liberals on most issues; the relationship between liberal and progressive is debated.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Keynesian economic theory has played a central role in the economic philosophy of modern American liberals.[8] The argument has been that national prosperity requires government management of the macroeconomy, to keep unemployment low, inflation in check, and growth high.[8]
John F. Kennedy defined a liberal as follows:[9][10]
"...someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the...