What are liberals?

When did liberals become synonymous with restriction of rights?  Didn't they used to want to liberate the people?  Aren't liberals the ones who fought for black and women's suffrage?  Aren't conservatives the ones who are supposed to be oppressing the people?

Was it the progressive movement?  Did liberals run out of things to fight for and now need to abolish rights they don't think are working out?  Why do they need bigger government to control everything they can think of?  Shouldn't they shrink government to LIBERATE the people from its control?

I need to discuss this.  I have been watching too much Fox News since Obama took office.

stop talking about "left and right" there's more to it than that. Would anarchists be considered "right wing"? They have more in common with libertarians ideologically than they do liberals.

Both liberals and conservatives in the modern usage want more government for their causes, whether it be supporting big business or supporting big business.