Nothing "caused" conservatism. There have always been two political views since the start of America.
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Conservatism in 1848 led to many of the European revolutions. Wanting to achieve a smaller government, kings were deposed because of it.
conservatism
Classical conservatism (also known as traditionalist conservatism or Burkean conservatism) is best summarised here: http://www.paxamerica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=54 It comes from the Enlightenment, and in particular from Edmund Burke (although the natural rights and private property beliefs have echoes of John Locke and classical liberalism in them.)
classic liberalism
Edmond Burke