Roe v. Wade (Great Events from History: North American Series)
Article abstract: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that state laws
prohibiting abortion are unconstitutional.  Summary of Event  By
the early 1970’s, abortion laws in the United States had become
an issue of public controversy. Among the factors promoting this
interest were concern for overpopulation, the vigorous women’s
rights movement, the overwhelming approval of physicians for
liberalized abortion policies, and awareness that approximately
one million illegal abortions occurred in the United States each
year. Although by 1973, many states had revised and liberalized
their abortion laws, arguments over these reforms were heated
and bitter. On one side were those who argued that women should
have unrestricted control over their bodies, and that this
autonomy should include the freedom to terminate pregnancy
medically. On the other side were those who maintained abortion
was contrary to certain moral values and religious principles.
The issue final