Was abortion legal before Roe v. Wade?
Abortion was legal in the United States up until the last half of the 19th century, when states began passing laws against it, largely at the behest of newly organized physicians. By 1910, all but one state had criminalized abortion except when necessary to save the life of the mother. Eventually a new movement achieved legalization in three states prior to Roe — Alaska, Hawaii, and New York. Has Roe meant that abortions are now widely accessible? No. The Supreme Court later upheld a ban on using federal funds to pay for abortion and has allowed several state laws that hinder access to abortion. Congress argues over various spending bans every year during the appropriations process. As a result, depending on what Congress does in any given year, millions of poor women, federal employees, federal prisoners, and others whose health care is paid for or insured by the federal government must pay for their own abortions. The practical result is that abortion is not a real option for many w
