Abortion Was Once Legal and Common

Before the mid-19th century, abortion was widely accepted and legal in the United States. It was common practice for women to use herbal remedies or surgical procedures without any government interference.

During the early days of the Republic, early pregnancy termination was not viewed through a modern political lens. It was simply part of the medical landscape until state legislatures began passing restrictive laws in the mid-1800s. These changes were often driven by professional medical organizations rather than religious groups. Understanding this history reveals that the current intensity of the debate is a relatively modern phenomenon.