There are handful of domestic policy issues that have become a focal point of discussion among the general population of the United States of America. Recent issues that have came to the forefront of debates nationwide include the possible legalization of marijuana, and whether or not modern gun laws need to be revised in order to put a greater regulatory influence in the gun-purchasing process. However, the topic of abortion and its moral and legal validity have been argued by ‘pro-lifers’ ‘pro-choicers’ for generations. There are many things to consider when formulating an opinion on this highly polarizing issue. Over the years, the issue has become extremely morally charged in nature. As a result, people are unlikely to be convinced that
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In the years before and during the nineteenth century, the practice was incredibly dangerous, as was the case with most surgical procedures performed. This was because of the lack of modern medical knowledge on top of the absence of antiseptics and licensed clinics. During this time, it was not uncommon of abortions to lead to the premature death of the mother as well (“History of Abortion”). It was not until the late 1800s in the United States when people began to call for the prohibition of the practice. States soon began to oblige in formulating legislation, but the motivation for doing so varied on a state by state basis. According to the National Abortion Federation (NAF), one of the main reasons for the emergence of anti-abortion laws was the fear that the population at the time would be dominated by the children of newly arriving immigrants, whose birth rates were higher than those of native Anglo-Saxon women. To prevent this, lawmakers wanted to ensure that no potential Anglo-Saxon births be terminated. (“History of Abortion”). Legislation was also created in order to protect women from the dangers of abortions from untrained practitioners. In fact, by 1910 all but one state had criminalized abortion “except where necessary, in a doctor’s judgment, to save the woman’s life” (“History…”). This resulted in abortion becoming a doctors-only practice, which improved the safety of the procedure; however, as stated in the quote above, women had no discretion as to whether or not they can obtain the
In the years before and during the nineteenth century, the practice was incredibly dangerous, as was the case with most surgical procedures performed. This was because of the lack of modern medical knowledge on top of the absence of antiseptics and licensed clinics. During this time, it was not uncommon of abortions to lead to the premature death of the mother as well (“History of Abortion”). It was not until the late 1800s in the United States when people began to call for the prohibition of the practice. States soon began to oblige in formulating legislation, but the motivation for doing so varied on a state by state basis. According to the National Abortion Federation (NAF), one of the main reasons for the emergence of anti-abortion laws was the fear that the population at the time would be dominated by the children of newly arriving immigrants, whose birth rates were higher than those of native Anglo-Saxon women. To prevent this, lawmakers wanted to ensure that no potential Anglo-Saxon births be terminated. (“History of Abortion”). Legislation was also created in order to protect women from the dangers of abortions from untrained practitioners. In fact, by 1910 all but one state had criminalized abortion “except where necessary, in a doctor’s judgment, to save the woman’s life” (“History…”). This resulted in abortion becoming a doctors-only practice, which improved the safety of the procedure; however, as stated in the quote above, women had no discretion as to whether or not they can obtain the