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Surgery in the 1800's
During the 1800s, all surgical procedures, including abortion, were extremely risky. Hospitals were not common, antiseptics were unknown, and even the most respected doctors had only primitive medical educations. Without today's current technology, maternal and infant mortality rates during childbirth were extraordinarily high. The dangers from abortion were similar to the dangers from other surgeries that were not outlawed. -
Abortion Laws changing
Connecticut passes the first law in the United States barring abortions after "quickening." -
Abortions limited
Twenty states have laws limiting abortion. -
Liberal Abortion laws
Alaska, Hawaii, New York, and Washington liberalize abortion laws, making abortion available at the request of a woman and her doctor. -
Jane Roe files Law suit
Seeking a legal abortion, Jane Roe, 21, files suit in against defendant Henry Wade in Texas’ Dallas Country District Court. The Texas court rules in Roe’s favor. -
case reargued
Case reargued due to the late addition of Justice Powell and Justice Rehnquist to the court. -
Roe v wade reaches supreme court
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 finally decided in the Supreme Court by a 7 to 2 majority. The court held that under the Fourteenth Amendment most U.S. abortion laws are unconstitutional. -
Hyde Amendement
Congress adopts the first Hyde Amendment barring the use of federal Medicaid funds to provide abortions to low-income women. -
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey reaffirms the "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.