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Conneticut Passes First Abortion Law
In 1821, Conneticut becomes the first state to pass a law pertaining to abortion. Conneticut passed a law that was "protecting" women from abortions which, at the time, were ususally performed by consuming poison after the fourth month. This started a chain reaction of laws that out restrictions on abortion. -
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More Restrictions on Abortion
By 1860, more states followed Conneticut by passing laws that either banned abortions or limited them. Twenty out of the thirty-three states at the time passed these laws. In 1873, the AMA, or American Medical Association banned the spreading of information about abortions with the Comstock Act. In 1875, many feminist, including Susan B. Anthony, criticized abortion and spoke out against it. In 1890, laws that were pushed by the AMA banned abortion excpet in cases where the mother was in danger. -
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Advocacy for Abortion
In the 1920's, Margaret Sanger, who later becomes known as one of the founders of Planned Parenthood, starts the birth control movement. A movement that focused on the right to use birth control and be informed about it. In 1962, Sherri Finkbine pushed for the legalization of abortion after she took medicine that she was unaware would cause birth defects. In 1963, the Society for Human Abortion was established and openly spread information about abortions and contraceptives. -
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More Support for Abortion
In 1965, a case in the Supreme Court known as Griswold v. Conneticut set a precident that because the Constitution gives citizens the right to privacy that they have the right to use contraceptives without government interference. In 1967, Colorado becomes the first state to get rid of the restrictions that they had previousky placed on abortions. In 1969, NARAL, or the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws was founded. The founder later changed his views and admitted to lying. -
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Improvements in Abortions
In the 1970's, Harvey Karnen, who is not a doctor, made some improvements on the common procedure for abortions at the time that made it safer. This could partly be the reason that some states lowered their restrictions. In 1970, four states changed their abortion laws making it legal up to 24 weeks. The parts of the Comstock Act that dealed with abortion and contraceptives were repealed in 1971. In 1972, Eisenstadt v. Baird, extended the rights in Griswold v. Conneticut to unmarried couples. -
A Year for Abortion Advocates
In 1973, two different Supreme Court cases set new precidents on abortion. The first one being Roe v. Wade stated that states laws that banned abortions were unconstitutional under the fourtenth amendment and that they were repealed. Doe v. Bolton stated that an abortion could be preformed up to nine months if it was necessary for a woman's mental, physical, or emotional health. During the same year, a group with no religious affiliation is formed as the National Right to Life Committee. -
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Movements for and Against Abortion
In 1974, the first March for Life occurs which still occurs every year. In 1975 and 1976, three cases set precident for abortion. One stated Virginia could not ban advertisements for abortion and the other gave abortion providers the right to challenge abortion laws. The last case stated a woman did not need permission from her partner or the father to have an abortion. In 1977, the Hyde Amendment stated federal funds could not be used for abortions except when necessary for health of the woman. -
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Movements in Both Directions
Since 1979, many cases have dealt with abortion. Some stated that teenagers did not need parental consent to obtain an abortion, that certain requirements did not have to be fulfilled and others put some restrictions on abortion. Many groups who are against abortion have opened crisis centers to help pregnant women hoping to stop abortions. President Trump, appointed a pro-life jugde to the SCOTUS. This is important because it can affect cases dealing with abortion that make it to the SCOTUS. -
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Citations
History of Abortion. (2019, May 13). Retrieved from https://studentsforlife.org/high-school/history-of-abortion/ on Feb. 12, 2020.