3 ms·

When did the word 'liberal' start to be used as synonym of progressive or to mean 'opposed to conservative'? because I don't think it should be like that

• jfengel 4y ago
  Roughly speaking, the 1930s. It's a US-only phenomenon. In Europe, liberalism means something roughly closer to "small-government libertarian". It meant that in the US, too, up to the early 20th century. Then it got associated with a reform movement that was not as radical as the progressive movement, which promoted very active government. It became contrasted with conservatism, which meant "avoid socialism at all costs" in the United States. That's still more or less what the terms mean, but none of them have precise definitions. They're kinda-vaguely useful in a study like this, which is deliberately drawing really broad generalizations. Whether it's conclusions are useful, I can't really say.