There's (at least) two kinds of liberalism. "Economic liberalism" is basically capitalism, while "social liberalism" means things like gay marriage, trans right

There's (at least) two kinds of liberalism. "Economic liberalism" is basically capitalism, while "social liberalism" means things like gay marriage, trans rights, etc. There's also "economic conservatism" and "social conservatism". In Europe, where societies have millennia-long traditions behind them, it wouldn't surprise me that "liberal" parties are both kinds of liberal, while "conservative" parties are both kinds of conservative. On the other hand, the origin story of the USA involves both fleeing from religious persecution and economic rebellion; that is, extreme social conservatism and extreme economic liberalism. Thus, "conservative" Americans hold onto those values, and "liberal" Americans are left with the opposite: social liberalism and economic conservatism.