미국헌법의 보수주의적 성향에 대한 정치사상적 연구 - 보수성의 기원을 중심으로 -

Many think that the constitution of the United States of America was legislated on the basis of liberalistic political thought. This view seems to be originated from the historical fact that the United States of America legislated its constitution in order to get out of British colonial rule and then establish their own country, thus preventing to be invaded by foreign countries. In addition, constitutional forefathers’ strong will to establish an independent country is enough to back up this way of thinking. However, it is doubtful whether the constitution of the United States of America was legislated on the basis of pure liberalism or not. It is because of the basic way of thinking of federalists who have been regarded as the constitutional forefathers of the United States of America, which was remarkable in the process of constitutional legislation. Their standpoint of human beings is not different from that of Machiavelli, a representative of conservatism. In addition, the maintenance of national order via establishing a powerful federal government seems to be undeniably linked to the conservative propensity. The reason why the constitution of the United States of America is estimated as liberal and democratic yet seems to be in the weakened hue of constitutional conservatism due to the balanced coexistence of conservatism and liberalism.