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Abortion Essay

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Should abortion be allowed in the United States? If so, then under what circumstances? Abortion has been one of the most heatedly debated topics in the U.S. for more than a century. This paper explores the history and international use of abortion, as well as the empirical and moral claims made by both sides of the issue. We will also examine the key positions taken on abortion and look at those affected by it. Based on extensive research and analysis, this paper will recommend that the government increase abortion funding and availability.

Abortion History:

Abortion has been around since the earliest times. The first recorded abortion recipe dates back to 2600 B.C. (“History of Abortion”). Ancient societies supported abortion …show more content…

Abortions became increasingly more common throughout the end of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, even though, by 1900, abortion was prohibited by law throughout the U.S. unless two or more doctors agreed that an abortion was necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman (Sauer).

By the 1960’s, states began to reconsider the legalization of abortion in response to the high rate of hospital admissions resulting from illegal abortions and a change in public opinion (“Abortion in Law, History, and Religion”). By the early 1970’s, 17 states had altered their abortion laws towards liberalization (“Abortion in Law, History, and Religion”). In 1973, the Supreme Court declared in Roe vs. Wade that most existing state laws were unconstitutional. The case ruled out any legislative interference in the first trimester of pregnancy and put limits on what restrictions could be passed on abortions in later stages of pregnancy (Sauer).

However, the Supreme Court’s decision was hindered by the government’s refusal to provide abortion facilities. Controversy arose over whether or not Medicaid should include funding for abortions. The Hyde Amendment introduced in 1976 prohibited such funding (Yishai). Currently federal Medicaid funding covers abortion only in the cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment (Sauer).

In 1989, the Supreme Court made a decision which further curtailed women’s ability to

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