It may come as a shock to some people, but the modern political movement popularly known as conservatism is actually more accurately called "liberalism."  Before the United States was born, there was a political and economic movement known as "liberalism" which recieved its name from the way in which it dealt with the issue of a country's economy.  The prevailing thought in Europe had been that the King (or Government) controlled the country's economy.  He had the ability to set prices, and to influence nearly all aspects of the economy.  The "liberal" movement proposed that the economy of a country could be allowed to move on its own through market forces and the demands of a free market.  These thinkers wanted to "liberate" the economy from the controls which had been traditionally imposed by the political leadership.  It was the influence of these "liberals" who helped to form the government for the fledgling republic of the United States. 
      As we have come down through time to the modern era, the modern conservatives of the United States are actually the descendants of the economic liberals from the founding of the country.  Modern conservatism holds closer to the ideals of the 18th century liberal economists by believing that the economy should be allowed to run its own course to a great degree (within the confines of our country's laws. ie:antitrust legislation) on both a large and small scale.  Companies and businesses generally should not be helped or hindered by government, and the economic life of the individual citizen should be similarly left to their own responsibility.  This is historic, economic liberalism.