Abortion laws in both the USA and Canada.

Essay by jordancardinaleHigh School, 12th gradeA, June 2003

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Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continually argued in the past and will be for many years to come. The main controversy is; should abortion be legalized? The first step is to define abortion. Abortion is the destruction of the fetus or unborn child while the child is still in the mother's womb. This can be done by almost anyone from the mother herself to clinics set up, especially for this purpose or even back alley abortions. There are two sides to the abortion topic, the pro-life, which is those who are against abortion altogether and the pro-choice or those who believe it is the woman's right to choose if she wants to have an abortion. These two groups offer different solutions to the problem. The pro-life solution is to have the child and to basically live with it. They believe abortion is not an answer. The pro-choice solution is abortion because of reasons they feel are appropriate.

Some believe that abortion is morally and ethically wrong, should it be legal for victims of rape or incest who have no other alternative? There is no real answer to this controversy, yet the question remains should the government allow abortion? This essay will outline and explain abortions legal history; it's legal roots and legal philosophies.

In the1900's, law throughout the U.S prohibited abortion. The only way a woman was able to have an abortion was if two or more physicians agreed that the procedure was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman. (Abortion Law Homepage, Roe verses Wade) In the late 1960s, state legislatures recognized changes in public opinion and began to reconsider the abortion legislation. In 1973, the U.S Supreme Court, in Roe v. Wade, ruled abortion as a sight under the United States...