American conservatism is a broad system of political beliefs in the United States characterized by respect for American traditions, republicanism, support for Judeo-Christian values, moral absolutism, free markets and free trade, anti-communism, individualism, advocacy of American exceptionalism, and a defense of Western culture from the threats, whether real or perceived, posed by anarchism, communism, socialism, liberalism, authoritarianism, and moral relativism. The recent movement is based in the Republican Party, though some Democrats were also important figures early in the movement's history.
The following list is made up of prominent American conservatives from the public and private sectors. The list also includes political parties, organizations and media outlets which have made a notable impact on conservatism in the United States. Entries on the list must have achieved notability after 1932, the beginning of the Fifth Party System. Before 1932, terminology was different. Positions that are called conservative after 1932, were typically called "liberal" (i.e. classical liberal) before then. Likewise European liberals, such as Friedrich Hayek, were called conservatives when they came to America, which puzzled Hayek.