Roe versus Wade: The Path to Legalized Abortion

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Roe versus Wade is a historic case in history as it legalized abortion in the United States at a time when most states would not permit a woman to have an abortion. To best understand this case, one should start at the beginning. It all started in March of 1970 with an unmarried, pregnant woman from Texas, named Norma McCorvey, who wanted to have an abortion. However, state law only allowed an abortion in a case where the mother’s life was at risk. This was not the case with Norma McCorvey. For many personal reasons, she did not want to have a baby at this time, but she did not have the money to travel across state lines to a state that permitted abortions. She felt she should have the right to get an abortion in a ‘safe environment’. (pbs.org) …show more content…

McCorvey’s case provided them this opportunity. McCorvey, later identified as Jane Roe in the case to protect her identity, alleged the abortion law in Texas violated her constitutional rights and the rights of other women. The case was brought against the defendant, the district attorney of Dallas County, Henry B. Wade. John Tolle, Jay Floyd, and Robert Flowers were the defendants’ lawyers. Roe, the plaintiff, was represented by Weddington and Coffee. (http://womenshistory.about.com/od/abortionuslegal/p/roe_v_wade.htm)

The case was argued before the Supreme Court on December 13, 1971, but a decision was not reached until January 22, 1973. Chief Justice Warren Burger, announced the 7-2 decision was in favor of Roe. This was because the court argued that the Texas statue violated Jane Roe’s constitutional right to privacy. (PBS.org) The ruling allowed for legal abortions during the entire pregnancy, but set up conditions to allow states to regulate abortion during the second and third trimesters (Cnn.com). The ruling affected laws in 46 …show more content…

In the 1960s, there was no federal law regulating abortions, and many states had banned the practice entirely, except when the life of the mother was endangered. Since 1973, the battle has raged. Pro-life groups began to lobby their Senators and Representatives to propose a Right-to-Life Amendment to the Constitution. Although introduced in Congress, the measure has never received the necessary support. Pro-choice groups such as the National ABORTION RIGHTS ACTION LEAGUE fear that a slow erosion of abortion rights has taken place since Roe v. Wade. Planned Parenthood clinics have become local battlegrounds over the abortion argument. Since Planned Parenthood is known for trying to provide safe, inexpensive abortions, protesters regularly picket outside their offices. Planned Parenthood sites have even been bombed by antiabortion followers. http://www.ushistory.org/us/57d.asp) The topic today continues to bring up much emotion as evident in our recent presidential

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