What distinguished modern liberalism from classical liberalism? Why, despite the differences between the two types of liberalism, is the term "liberalism" applied to both of them?

The use of the same name doesn’t make sense until you apply the opposite philosophy to the deal, which would be conservative, base word conserve or save that which was. Classical Liberalism seeks to preserve what was considered to be liberal at the time of our nation’s founding, while modern liberalism seeks the change and/or make progress to something new & different.

After Marx, progress tends to run toward collectivism, using the power of the state to make you your brother’s keeper. Whether you think that it is the proper role of government to defend you individual liberties or to try to make the field more level will determine what kind of liberalism you’ll embrace.

The whole left, right, liberal, conservative equation is quite different in Europe, but that’s another topic.

It’s actually in the Middle and leaning right to be honest. Classical Liberals advocates Capitalism and "Personal Freedom".

Where does the Conservatism movement fit in?

Obviously the left liberals (AKA modern liberals) are different in regards to economic liberalism. Meaning they support more socialized form of economics.

However the right liberals (aka conservatives) have the same view on economic liberalism but not political liberalism. IE gay rights, and privacy rights.

Also if there are any out there who support classical liberalism where does your allegiance lie?
What? I’m not talking about presidential candidates..

If Jefferson was a classic liberal then your supposition is wrong, I am a Jefferson / Madison Liberal, economic liberalism is not at all Jefferson style, modern economic liberalism is more Hamilton rule by elite system.
TAX ONLY THE RICH
"We are all the more reconciled to the tax on importations, because it falls exclusively on the rich, and with the equal partition of intestate’s estates, constitutes the best agrarian law.. Our revenues once liberated by the discharge of the public debt, and its surplus applied to canals, roads, schools, etc., and the farmer will see his government supported, his children educated, and the face of his country made a paradise by the contributions of the rich alone, without his being called on to spare a cent from his earnings."
–Thomas Jefferson to Thaddeus Kosciusko, 1811. ME 13:41

http://www.constitution.org/tj/jeff13.tx…

PROGRESSIVE TAXES
"The property of this country is absolutely concentred in a very few hands, having revenues of from half a million of guineas a year downwards… I am conscious that an equal division of property is impracticable. But the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery to the bulk of mankind, legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind. Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on."

–Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, October 28,1785. ME 19:17, Papers 8:682

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/libra…

If the American People ever allow the banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers occupied. The issuing power of money should be taken from the bankers and restored to Congress and the people to whom it belongs. I sincerely believe the banking institutions having the issuing power of money are more dangerous to liberty than standing armies.
We are completely saddled and bridled, and the bank is so firmly mounted on us that we must go where they ill guide.
The dominion which the banking institutions have obtained over the minds of our citizens…must be broken, or it will break us. Thomas Jefferson
(Letter to James Monroe, January 1, 1815

Sorry if i sound ignorant, i am only 16.

the way i feel about it is that classical liberalism is more of a conservative-libertarian philosophy. Am I right by that?
yeah, because i figured that classical liberalism came about during the enlightenment and what not. Also when the french were protesting the monarchy and the three estates, hence these people were called liberals.

In a very broad sense, you are correct. Classical Liberalism was very much defined by adherence to free markets, democracy, and civil liberties. This was in contrast to the conservatives of their day, who were monarchists, and who favored a controlled Mercantilist economy.

However, modern conservatives and modern liberals can now be described as centre-right and centre-left. Classical Liberals would have been (by our standards) considered far-right economically and far-left socially. So while it is generally true that conservatism (at least in rhetoric) is pro-business (which leads most people to label it pro-free market), a classical liberal is as every bit a relative of modern liberals in the sense that classical liberals called for the separation of church and state and the reduction of government interference in social matters.

conservative liberalism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_liberalism

social liberalism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_liberalism

classical liberalism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism

conservative liberalism

(which sounds a lot like Libertarians)

true or false

False,

Extreme right wing conservatism is fascism where the government controls everything.

Extreme left wing liberalism is communism where the government controls everything.

Everything else is in the middle.

Modern liberalism believe government should be used to protect us for corporations and abuse by the powerful. While staying out of our lives, bedrooms, doctor’s office, etc.

Conservatives want to have a say about our sex lives (Gay marriage), our medical decisions (abortions, end of life decisions, see Terry Shivo), and education (see teaching creationism in school). Yet they would enslave us as employees or abandon us as consumers to big corporate entities.

The answer is here:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=fascism+vs+classical+liberalism&btnG=Search

if so, what?
MODERN LIBERTARIANISM NOT LIBERALISM FOOL

Classical liberalism respects the rights of individuals over the rights or business.

Modern libertarianism respects business rights over individual rights.

HOW DO THEY COMPARE AND CONTRAST IN TERMS OF THEIR BELIEFS ON HUMAN NATURE, POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, AND THE ECONOMY….MOST THOROUGH ANSWER WINS!

I REPEAT, HUMAN NATURE, POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, AND THE ECONOMY!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!

LET THE

Classical Liberalism supported the concept of personal responsibility and increasing liberties thru the reduction of government control. The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are examples of Classical Liberal documents.

Modern Liberalism is a cover for Progressive thought. It emphasizes increasing government control and reduction of individual liberty. An example of this is the current goals of what has been called ‘Obamacare’.

Is the game over yet?

Classical Liberals were more what Libertarians are today. Low to 0 government, taxes, programs, ect… except on the small town, city, and state levels.

Modern Liberals are very socialistic. They like government programs to take care of them cradle to the grave but call themselves liberal because they are pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, and such.

These days I guess I’m an old liberal that votes republican because new liberals and democrats seem to want to do nothing but take my money and give it to others through more and more programs, one of which could apply to me but I would never disrespect my family, friends, and neighbors by stealing their hard earned money.