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Sep 1, 1500
Use of Merury
First documented case where mercury was used in abortion -
1821
Connecticut passes the first law in the United States barring abortions after "quickening." -
Abortion starts to become illegal
It is recorded that in the early 1800 states start to bind a law that prohibits the act of abortion. -
Griswold v. Connecticut Supreme Court
decision strikes down a state law that prohibited giving married people information, instruction, or medical advice on contraception. -
Proposition for legalizing abortion due to mental/physical complications
1959
The American Law Institute (ALI) proposes a model penal code for state abortion laws. The code advocates legalizing abortion for reasons including the mental or physical health of the mother, pregnancy due to rape and incest, and fetal deformity (National rights to live). -
Colorado
becomes the first state to liberalize its abortion laws -
Twist of faith
1970
Apr. 11: New York allows abortion on demand up to the 24th week of pregnancy, as Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller signs a bill repealing the state's 1830 law that banned abortion after quickening except to save a woman's life. Similar laws are passed in Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington state(National rights for life). -
Alaska, Hawaii, New York, and Washington
liberalize abortion laws, making abortion available at the request of a woman and her doctor. -
Eisenstadt v. Baird Supreme Court
Establishes the right of unmarried people to use contraceptives. -
Men's right Movement
Within this time a bunch of men came together as an organization addressing discrimination against men: such as reproductive rights, divorce settlements, domestic violence laws, and sexual harassment. -
Roe v. Wade
Supreme Court decision strikes down state laws that made abortion illegal -
Congress adopts the first Hyde Amendment
use of federal Medicaid funds to provide abortions to low-income women. -
Rust v. Sullivan
upholds the constitutionality of the 1988 "gag rule" which prohibits doctors and counselors at clinics which receive federal funding from providing their patients with information about and referrals for abortion. -
Freedom of choice
Nov. 17: The so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" is introduced for the first time in the U.S. House by Rep. Don Edwards (D-Ca.) and in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Ca.). (See also Mar. 5, 1992; June 30, 1993.)(National rights to life). -
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey
"core" holdings of Roe that women have a right to abortion before fetal viability, but allows states to restrict abortion access so long as these restrictions do not impose an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions. -
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act
passed by Congress with a large majority in response to the murder of Dr Gunn. The FACE Act forbids the 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. -
Food and Drug Administration
approves mifepristone (RU-486) as an option in abortion care for very early pregnancy. -
Stenberg v. Carhart (Carhart I)
the Nebraska statute banning so-called "partial-birth abortion" is unconstitutional for two independent reasons: the statute lacks the necessary exception for preserving the health of the woman, and the definition of the targeted procedures is so broad as to prohibit abortions in the second trimester, thereby being an "undue burden" on women. This effectively invalidates 29 of 31 similar statewide bans. -
Federal ban on abortion
is passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush. The National Abortion Federation immediately challenges the law in court and is successful in blocking enforcement of the law for its members. -
NAF
wins lawsuit against federal abortion ban. Justice Department appeals rulings by three trial courts against ban.
