History of Abortion

States individually began to make abortions illegal to increase the "native" population and prevent immigrants from outnumbering them.

By 1910, all states had made abortions illegal unless the pregnancy was life threatening to the mother. This made abortions a physicians only procedure, preventing midwives and other untrained people from attempting the procedure.

Supreme Court ruled that a state's ban on the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy.

Colorado Governor signs the first abortion law allowing abortion in cases of permanent mental or physical disability of either the child or the mother and in pregnancies due to rape or incest.

First Supreme Court case regarding abortion. Upheld a District of Columbia law permitting abortion only to preserve a woman's "health". The Court distinguished "health" as "psychological and physical well-being" which basically permitted abortion for any reason.

Prior to this ruling, it was illegal for unmarried women to obtain contraception. This decision established the right for unmarried women to use contraceptives.

Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. Ruled that part of a woman's right to privacy was the right to choose if she wants children or not and a woman could make that decision with her doctor without state interference.

Here is a youtube clip explaining the case further:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q5AgCzPIuA

Reagan forms a federal task force to promote adoption over abortion

In this PA case, it was ruled that women must give informed consent and wait 24 hours before the procedure. Also, a minor must receive consent from one parent. These new regulations were allowed because they do not place "undue burden" on the woman.

This upheld the 1988 "gag-rule" which prohibited counselors at clinics that received federal funding from providing their patients with information about abortions.