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Abortions Criminalized
Connecticut passes the first law in the United States barring abortions after “quickening" (when the fetus starts to move)
(Source: https://prochoice.org/education-and-advocacy/about-abortion/history-of-abortion/) -
First sight of change
Colorado becomes the first state to go against the criminalization of abortions, allowing women to get abortions in the "cases of rape, incest, fetal defects, or for mental-health reasons." Site:https://www.thecut.com/2017/01/timeline-the-200-year-fight-for-abortion-access.html -
Roe V. Wade
Details: Taking place in Texas, Roe fought for the right to terminate pregnancy in a state that only allowed abortion to protect the life of the mother. The supreme court extended the right to privacy, ruling in favor of abortion rights.
Importance: The supreme court case that legalized abortion -
Original Hyde Amendment
Law declaring use of federal funds such as financial cannot be used under any circumstances to pay for the abortion of low income women -
Hyde Amendment Revision
An legislative provision preventing the use of federal funds such as medicaid to pay for an abortion except for certain circumstance (if the child is a product of rape or incest and if it's to save the woman's life). -
NARAL is Formed
A pro-choice organization that advocated for women's rights was founded -
Belloti v. Baird
Supreme Court case that decided that pregnant teenagers don't have the right to consent to having an abortion and must have parental permission. -
Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services
This upheld Missouri's Law, deeming it constitutional.
Case Importance: This decision enabled states to have greater authority in abortion laws and each states laws can vary.
(https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/webster-v-reproductive-health-services-1989) -
Rust v. Sullivan
Supreme court case makes the "gag rule" constitutional, stating that doctors and counselors working at federally funded offices CANNOT provide patients with referrals and information about abortions -
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
This reaffirms Roe v. Wade, states that the states cannot ban or interfere with a woman's decision in getting an abortion -
Killing of Dr. David Gunn
The first documented murder of a OB-GYN physician by Pro-Life/ Anti-Abortion Activist in attempts to stop an abortion. -
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act
Act passed by congress following the killing of Dr. David Gunn, forbidding use of “force, threat of force or physical obstruction” to prevent someone from providing or receiving reproductive health services. The law also provides for both criminal and civil penalties for those who break the law. -
Bombing at Atlanta Clinic
A man puts 2 bombs in an abortion clinic in atlanta. This is important as it was a radical action taken toward abortion clinics and was considered the first domestic terrorist action taken in the fight between pro life and pro-choice -
Stenberg V. Carhart
The government was brought to decide on the constitutionality of a ban made in Nebraska and ultimately decided that Nebraska's ban on partial birth abortions was unconstitutional as it burdened women's right to an abortion and didn't take the mothers health into consideration. -
Partial-Abortion Ban Act of 2003
Act signed by Bush that banned abortions in the second trimester -
Gonzales v. Carhart
A supreme court case which banned late term abortions and was seen as a step for pro-life supporters. -
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signs a budget that “defunds” Planned Parenthood
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Planned Parenthood Shooting
Clinic shooting which resulted in the death of three and several people injured -
Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt
Details: Texas created 2 laws requiring abortion clinics to meet certain standards surgically. This made certain clinic shut down due to failure to meet requirements, therefore making it harder for women to seek abortions. Importance: Supreme court case held up Roe v. Wade a deemed it unconstitutional to protect women's access to abortion -
Human Life Protection Act
Also known as the Alabama Abortion Ban defined all unborn people as "persons" and banned abortions at any stage in the pregnancy with the only exception being if it was possible that the mother may give birth to a stillborn which was later blocked by a federal judge.
