Why are liberals called left and conservatives right?

Answer 1

The terms arose in France during the pre-revolutionary (around 1790) period. At the time, France generally divided the population into three "Estates". The First Estate was the clergy and the monarch. The Second Estate included all nobility and royalty besides the monarch. The Third Estate was made up of all commoners, 98% of France's population at the time.

During national assemblies, it was court practice to seat Second Estate representatives on the right side of the assembly president (often the King of France), a traditional position of honor. They occupied seats in the right wing or chamber of the meeting hall. Third Estate representatives were seated on the president's left-hand side.

Third Estate representatives eventually formed the movement that led to the French Revolution, the end of French Feudalism, and democracy in France. Ever since, Populist movements like the Third Estate have traditionally been termed "left-wing" and Nationalist movements have been termed "right-wing".

Answer 2

Moderates, that are frequently the most! human beings look to imagine labels like conservative or liberal have an complete hell of multiple meaning, except for ideologues and individuals like Bush! i'm purely about continually categorized a liberal, although i'm an autonomous pragmatist! I have some conservative perspectives! i became a conservative till Vietnam (My 8 years energetic) and worked with the undesirable for 27 years! I easily have also taken graduate instructions in economics and company and that i went to a degreed nursing college. I have a BS degree from a school! My father, a career military officer, became a liberal! i imagine he talked about adequate in WWII (third branch), Korea(seventh branch) in the course of the conflict and as an consultant in south Vietnam contained in the late '50's! I easily have seen maximum aspects up close and private! they don't look regurgitation's i'm getting from the media so i do not ought to imagine! I believe the above individual who exhibits the middle is being wiped out! thanks George!!

Answer 3

Simple -

Conservatives are "right"

Therefore the opposite of right is left

Making liberals left as they are certainly never right!!

Answer 4

You know how it's generally easier to make a right turn? You only have to consider one flow of traffic. That's what conservatives do...they consider one flow of thought...theirs!

Left is normally a harder turn to make because you have to actually look at the traffic flowing in different directions. Liberals actually consider different flows of thought before making a decision.

I couldn't resist!

Marbledog...niiiiiiiiiice.

Answer 5

Because Conservatives are right all the time and Liberals are always way out there in left field.

I couldn't let this one pass!

Answer 6

That's a good question and i have never thought of it. And people say I ask a lot of questions.

I really don't know. I think someone just wanted to place them somewhere in a diagram to explain something and they just placed them where they wanted.

But thinking about it that way does make me appreciate having both Democrats and Republicans. I, myself am a Democrat but it just occurred to me that a bird needs two wings to fly straight and likewise so do we need altering thoughts brought to light to make our country fly or operate straight.

Answer 7

i think it has to do with where they sit in the house and senate. the liberal democrats are on the left, and the conservative republicans are on the right.

Answer 8

Good question. Of course, I could say that since I am conservative that right means we are always right, but that would be crap. I don't know the answer.

Answer 9

They are the "Wings" of the Capital. Right Wing = Republican, Left Wing = Democrat.

Answer 10

Why? Interesting question. Can't wait to see the answers. Love hearing how things get started