Liberals in the United States Facts for Kids

In the United States, people who are called liberals often share similar ideas about how society and government should work. They believe in things like individual rights, freedom, and making sure everyone has a fair chance. Liberals often support government programs that help people, protect the environment, and ensure equality for all. They also tend to believe in progress and change to make society better.

What are Liberals in the U.S.?
- Important Liberal Leaders
Gallery
Related Information

What are Liberals in the U.S.?

Being a liberal in the U.S. means having certain political beliefs. These beliefs often focus on social justice, equality, and civil rights. Liberals usually think the government should play a role in solving problems. This can include helping those in need or protecting the planet. They often support things like public education, healthcare for everyone, and protecting the rights of all people.

Important Liberal Leaders

Many important people in American history have been known as liberals. These leaders have worked to shape the country based on liberal ideas. They come from different areas, including politics, law, and even writing.

Key Politicians

Here are some politicians who were, or are, considered liberals:

President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
President Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908)
Governor Samuel J. Tilden (1814–1886)
State Senator Eugene V. Debs (1955–1926)
Mayor Carter Harrison, Jr. (1860–1953)
President Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
Vice President Thomas R. Marshall (1854–1925)
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972)
Representative Don Edwards (1915-2015)
Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. (1914-2013)
President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973)
President Jimmy Carter (b.1924)
Senator George McGovern (1922-2012)
Senator Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968)
Governor Reubin Askew (1928-2014)
Senator Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)
Mayor Richard M. Daley (b.1942)
President Bill Clinton (b.1946)
Senator Frank Lautenberg (1924-2013)
Senator Bernie Sanders (b. 1941)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (b. 1949)
Senator Kamala Harris (b.1964)
Senator Cory Booker (b. 1969)
Senator Harry Reid (b.1939)
Senator Patrick Leahy (b.1940)
Senator Daniel Inouye (1924-2012)
Representative Tulsi Gabbard (b.1981)
Representative Keith Ellison (b.1963)
Representative Maurice Hinchey (1938-2017)
Representative Louise Slaughter (1929-2018)
State Senator Nina Turner (b.1967)
County Commissioner Chuy García (b.1956)
Mayor Mario Cuomo (1932-2015)
Governor Pat Quinn (b.1948)
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (b.1959)

Judges and Thinkers

Some important judges and thinkers have also been considered liberals. They helped shape laws and ideas in the country.

Chief Justice Roger Taney (1777–1864)
Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson (1890–1953)
Associate Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. (1907-1998)
Judge James B. Bradwell (1828-1907)
William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879) - A writer who fought against slavery.
John Dewey (1859–1952) - An important thinker about education and society.
Friedrich Hayek (1899-1992) - An economist and philosopher.

Other Influential People

These individuals also played a role in liberal thought or movements.

James M. Buchanan (1919–2013) - An economist.
Dale T. Mortensen (1939–2014) - An economist.
Lyndon LaRouche (b.1922) - A political activist.
Robert Fogel (1926-2013) - An economist.
Michael Moore (b.1954) - A filmmaker and writer.

Former Liberals

Some people started out with liberal views but later changed their political ideas.

President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)
Senator Strom Thurmond (1902-2003)

Gallery

Eugene V. Debs was a labor leader.
Franklin D. Roosevelt led the U.S. during the Great Depression and World War II.
John F. Kennedy was a popular president in the 1960s.
George McGovern was a senator from South Dakota.
Jimmy Carter served as president from 1977 to 1981.
Harry F. Byrd, Jr. was a senator from Virginia.
Louise Slaughter was a representative from New York.
Edward "Ted" Kennedy was a long-serving senator from Massachusetts.
Barack Obama was the 44th U.S. President.
Bernie Sanders is a senator from Vermont.
Tulsi Gabbard was a representative from Hawaii.
Daniel Inouye was a senator from Hawaii.
Elizabeth Warren is a senator from Massachusetts.
Nina Turner is a former state senator from Ohio.

Related Information

Liberalism - Learn more about the general idea of liberalism.

All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:

Liberals in the United States Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Liberals in the United States facts for kids

Contents