Why is the South so conservative?

[Kevin]

ConKiller...have you ever been to Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, Dallas, New Orelans or Memphis.  They are much more rural than Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island arent they
?

He meant the South vs. non-South on balance (though Rhode Island is quite dense).

In addition to what's been said, Northeasterners are more likely to identify with another ancestry--i.e. Irish-American, Italian-American.

I mean also unlike the South the Northeast is historically more industrial and urbanized, which gives rise to other Democratic leaning groups like labor unions etc.

Something most Southeastern states(especially in the deep south) don't have.

[Kevin]

Religious fundamentalism.

Unlike like most areas in the Northeast and Midwest, Evangelical church membership is higher than "Mainline" church attendance in the Southeast.   

I wouldn't say that's the main cause although it is one of many. I mean states like Idaho,  Alaska, and Montana are pretty conservative overall, but they have some of the lowest church attendance/importance of religion in daily life rates in the country.

Likewise states in the Northeast like MA and RI have large numbers of Catholic voters, but are still solidly Democratic. 

[Kevin]

I don't think anyone mentioned this yet.  Here's another reason why the Northeast should arguably be more conservative than the South: the North is where the Puritans settled.  The Puritans were a very religious people who wanted to turn the US into a theocratic government and were somewhat successful in doing so, hence why we have so many blue laws as remnants of their attempts.  So, I'm still confused on how states with such strict laws on alcohol became the most liberal.

Yes, I realize this is the exact opposite of my original question.  Still relevant, though.

A very interesting point as well.

I don't know very much about Puritan theology, but the more radical streams of Calvinism always had the potential to promote social progressive politics. Progressive, but not liberal (in the European sence).

It's like "We have to fight the Evil in this world and eliminate it, to make the world a better place" or something like that, as I said I'm not a theologian. "The Evil" may be alcohol, slavery or social injustice.

An other argument could be made that a religious tradition like Puritanism which is far less institutionalized than, let's say, Catholicism, is more susceptible to secularization. And secularization of course goes hand in hand with non-traditional political believes, be it socialism or liberalism.

Another thing to add is that many white Southerners(if not a majority) are the descendents of Scots-Irish settlers to the region from Ulster a part of modern day Northern Ireland(Not historically known as one of the most progressive places in Europe). Amongst the various ethnic groups in Europe, Scots-Irish are also regarded as one of the most conservative and religious group of people, hence some of the roots of the Northern Ireland conflict.