When did the conservative/liberal alignment take place?

[Wazza [INACTIVE]]

The Democratic Party has always been a party rooted in liberalism, the perceived ideological differences between Andrew Jackson and FDR are more a result of the adaption of Liberal philosophy over time more so than a distinction in core philosophy. Its the same reason why the UK Liberal Party went from advocating laissez-faire capitalism under Gladstone to passing the "People's Budget" under Lloyd George.

As for the GOP, the 1870s when the Liberal Republicans revolted, reconstruction and the Radical Republican faction had ended and the issue of slavery was when the GOP began moving towards being a more (19th century) conservative party rather than a big-tent anti-slavery party. Though the GOP in its initial stages was still dominated by ex-whigs.

[Wazza [INACTIVE]]

"Problems change and policies change from year to year and from age to age, but the fundamental truths of equality of right, equality of opportunity, individual liberty, hatred of privilege and confidence in people, which give life and strength to the Democratic Party, remain through all the years the same. So long as it rests on these sure foundations no transient differences  of opinions about questions of the moment can long divide or distress the Democracy.

We may leave to our Republican opponents such terms as conservative and radical, progressive and reactionary, regular and insurgent, to describe or explain the bitter discord that divides their ranks. We are content with a nobler adjective. It is the glory of the Democratic Party to be known as the party of liberalism speaking for and in the name of the liberal thought of the country. As such, it is not ashamed to learn from the lessons of the past, and not afraid, because they are new, to face the problems of the future. There is room in its ranks for all men, high and low, rich and poor, who love freedom and ordered liberty, and who wish nothing for themselves that their neighbors may not equally enjoy."

~John W. Davis

; )