American vs European political terms -- need help

[knot]

American liberal = European leftist
European liberal = American libertarian

Right?

How did it end up like this?

[miniboes]

Because of the two party system. To explain it in in European terms: The republican party is similar to a European christian democratic party, which stands to the right of the liberal party. The democrats have been moving leftwards from a liberal party towards a social-liberal or social-democratic party, but never dropped the label of liberal. I am certain, by the way, that the democrat party would be regarded as liberal too, still standing to the right of social democrats. Let me illustrate it for you:



(the republicans should not start in the liberal section, i goofed up)