[Verginius Rufus]

Liberalism in Europe had a very different meaning from "liberalism" in modern American politics. Liberalism was originally associated with notions of liberty, inalienable rights, responsible self-government (not necessarily implying universal suffrage)--the ideas people like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, or the Marquis de LaFayette would have agreed with.

It's only later (mid-19th century on) that the idea that a utopia can be created catches on, and with it the idea that the government is the agent to do that, the inspiration for "Progressives" in America from the early 1900s to the present.

[gorush]

"...the ideas people like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,..."

Adams was irreplaceable during the Revolution. As a President, however, he stunk. He was our first liberal President, giving us travesties like the Alien and Sedition Acts. But worse, after his loss to Jefferson he packed the federal courts with more big gov't types including Marbury of Marbury v. Madison fame, which, IMHO, led to the downfall of our Republic.