<P> This belief in small government combines with fiscal conservatism to produce a broader economic liberalism, which wishes to minimize government intervention in the economy or implement laissez - faire policies . This economic liberalism borrows from two schools of thought: the classical liberals' pragmatism and the libertarian's notion of "rights ." The classical liberal maintains that free markets work best, while the libertarian contends that free markets are the only ethical markets . </P> <P> Historian Kathleen G. Donohue argues that classical liberalism in the 19th century U.S. had distinctive characteristics as opposed to Britain: </P> <Dl> <Dd> at the center of classical liberal theory (in Europe) was the idea of laissez - faire . To the vast majority of American classical liberals, however, laissez - faire did not mean no government intervention at all . On the contrary, they were more than willing to see government provide tariffs, railroad subsidies, and internal improvements, all of which benefited producers . What they condemned was intervention in behalf of consumers . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> at the center of classical liberal theory (in Europe) was the idea of laissez - faire . To the vast majority of American classical liberals, however, laissez - faire did not mean no government intervention at all . On the contrary, they were more than willing to see government provide tariffs, railroad subsidies, and internal improvements, all of which benefited producers . What they condemned was intervention in behalf of consumers . </Dd>

Who were the leading domestic critics of the america of the 1950s