Conservatism is the political doctrine that believes in and supports preserving traditional values, institutions, and practices. Modern conservatism can be traced back to British Philosopher Edmund Burke, following the French Revolution in 1790. While Burke suggested that the government or state was a servant of the people responsible for conserving these societal values, the American conservatism deeply distrusted the government and sought to protect individual civil rights. These conservatives labeled their ideology as classical liberalism, inspired by the Founding Fathers. While Burke's ideas are not the common ideology today, some of the original values still stand, such as the fundamental need to preserve traditional values and institutions, especially to counter the liberal ideas. The United States is especially keen on this with its never-ending battle on abortion and gay rights. Other segments of conservatism today include foreign policies, such as military interference.