Conservatism is a LOT older than WWII. Whatever was mainstream was conservative. When Democrats wanted to preserve slavery, they felt their beliefs were conservative and that the new Republican party were liberals who had no respect for tradition.

When Republicans fought the creation of a personal income tax, they were conservative because such was not conceived of in our Constitution.

The Communist-liberal link was very real ever since Bolsheviks ran things in Russia. Bolsheviks believed they were liberal and that the Tsarists were conservatives. They tried to rally global sympathy for their brutal revolution among the worlds liberals - and they were successful. The communist and Marxist doctrines were liberal. Capitalism was by that point quite conservative. They found many willing ears in the US during the depression. Suddenly capitalism, bankers and such were anathemic to the poor masses yearning for something better. Communism sounded real good and at that point was so far away from America that the reality of life in Russia was well concealed. In the 1939 World's Fair, Russia set up a great propaganda bit - building the tallest structure in the Fairgrounds - a 'red' worker striding forcibly upon a tower.

Inside a mural of smiling happy Soviets welcomed the US gawkers, of which many actually bought into the propaganda, that Russia was more prosperous and their people were more happy. That red star promised a bright future for America's downtrodden. Liberals in the US, long before WWII, were embracing communism as a new model for national government in the US. The Communist party members in the US were legion by 1937 - an epidemic of them emerged in universities and schools all over the US. The communists told the teachers and the blue collar workers that they would be more valued and would have greater power than they have in the capitalist US - where the bankers and white-collar workers seem to have the power.

Seeking out a history of the conservativism in the US is very simple. Whatever is mainstream is conservative. Whatever has limited support and is not mainstream is liberal. Right now gaming, couch potato behavior and over-eating are conservative US traits. Shunning the games, couch and food would be liberal. Rock and roll was liberal in 1958 and by 1978 had become conservative, when Punk was liberal. Religions due to their longstanding existence has a claim to conservatism, even if when each religion was founded it was considered crazy liberal cultism.

When everyone followed the Messiah Obama and walked in lockstep, supporting Obama quickly became conservative and sticking with the GOP became liberal. Now, as the nation continues to sink, supporting the failing waste of the Obama presidency will soon become liberal again.

You see how conservatism works? It HAS been around since the dawn of mankind. When the first folks wanted to leave the caves they were liberals. Then they became conservatives.

Conservatism, like EVERYTHING, is a cycle. It loops around and opposes itself in a 180 degree position before returning to where it started.

Hope that helps clarify it for you.

;-)