Abstract

The topic covered in this research paper is abortion. This paper looks into the history of abortion, the pro-life view of abortion and the pro-choice view of abortion. Under history of abortion the information included is the time line of significant events of abortion such as becoming legal, also different ways in ancient times women would try to use abortions. The upgrading of technology making abortion safer and even if abortion was illegal women would still find a way to abort a baby are also covered under the history of abortion. Under pro-life choice for abortion looks into abortion murder, the rights of human and the rights of the unborn and that a women doesn't have a right to terminate her own fetus. Under pro- choice
In 1873 a man named Anthony Comstock introduced the Comstock act which banned all methods contraceptives which included abortion. This act prevented any person from obtaining knowledge about methods of birth control as well as abortions. In 1890 abortion was made legal, but only after the pregnant women has met with several doctors to confirm that she will be put in danger without having it done(Garrow,1999). In the 1900s all abortions were banned again by the government. A portion of physicians betrayed the law and secretly performed black market abortions without consultations. This event shows that people are starting to rethink their opinions on abortion and how it affects them and their families. During the 1960's abortion was legal but only if the women was mentally or physically handicapped, if she was raped, the baby was a product of incest, and if she was not healthy enough to carry the baby or it would put her in harm during delivery. In 1971 the Comstock act was repealed, all states except four, abortion was legal but only under certain conditions and in the other four states it was legal and guaranteed women the right to terminate their pregnancy.(Gale,2006,92) The case that set the standard for the current debate over abortion was one of the most controversial decisions the U.S. Supreme Court ever handed down. In its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the Court declared that a