Conservatism in North America is a political philosophy that varies in form, depending on the country and the region, but that has similar themes and goals.
Academic study into the differences and similarities between conservatism in North American countries has been undertaken on numerous occasions.
[1] According to Louis Hartz, nations that developed from settler colonies were European "fragments" that froze the class structure and underlying ideology prevalent in the mother country at the time of their foundation.
[2] However Gad Horowitz, writing that Hartz had acknowledged a Tory influence in English Canada, claimed a conservative tradition had developed there as well.
[8][9] Stemming from the resettlement of United Empire Loyalist after the American Revolutionary War with traditionalist conservatism views alongside pro-market liberalism ideals,[10][8] is the reason that unlike the conservatives in the United States, Canadian conservatives generally prefer the Westminster system of government.
Characteristics of conservative principles include limited government, respect for American traditions, support for Judeo-Christian values,[13] moral universalism,[14] individualism and defense against perceived threats posed by communism and socialism.
They support the doctrine of "American exceptionalism", a belief that the U.S. is unique among nations and that its standing and actions do and should guide the course of world history.
Two years later, in 1955, William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review, a conservative magazine that included traditionalists, such as Kirk, along with libertarians and anti-communists.
Politically, the conservative movement in the U.S. has often been a coalition of various groups, which has sometimes contributed to its electoral success and other times been a source of internal conflict.
[21] Before the 1930s, Central American countries generally had dichotomous politics divided along conservative-liberal lines, but the effects of the Great Depression in the area caused most of these opposing parties to merge in order to maintain authority.
[22] Traditionally, political conservatism in the area has been ideologically linked with Protestantism, but this connection has been questioned in recent years.
[24] Belize is generally a conservative country as demonstrated by their laws which make abortion and male homosexuality illegal.
[39] Although Cuba's government remains ideologically communist, evangelical churches have allowed the growth of conservative ideas and groups within religious institutions.
Some feminist scholars have suggested that the prevalence of conservatism throughout North America has resulted in the continent's general post-feminist stance.