The Legal History of Abortion

Throughout history, the United States has faced and dealt with many social issues. From the war protests and civil rights movements of the 1960's, to the more recent controversies over isolationism and pre-emptive war, it is rare indeed to find a time when controversy is not present, at least at some level, within the nation. Even considering these controversies though, one of the most pressing social issues of our current time is doubtlessly the continuous conflict over abortion. What makes the abortion argument so complex lies not in a single element or issue of the debate, but rather in the deep and sensitive questions that must be asked before one even begins to think about the topic. However, there have been many definite attempts on behalf of the government and court systems in order to find a common ground for the issue, and try to resolve at least some of the arguments surrounding it. By examining evidence from past cases and debates, it becomes obvious that the issue of abortion has divided the country of America both socially and politically for over 200 years.