Sarah MondayPeriod 5 The GovernmentMr. DohertyMarch 26, 2014Why abortion should be legal for everyonePerhaps the most heated ethical debate of the 21st century is that around abortion. Abortion is a medical or surgical procedure to end a pregnancy. Abortions are currently legal in the United States, although laws differ from state to state. Abortions have a long history in the United States and have been performed there almost since the first settlers arrived from England. For nearly a hundred years, starting in 1880, abortions were made illegal almost nationwide. At that time, many women performed illegal abortions, which were often dangerous to their health. Many women were injured or died as a result of these self-abortions, and those who sought a different route suffered from the lack of proper medical care at small clinics. The abortion ban has sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrators calling abortion a right a woman should have. By 1970, nearly a third of states had reformed or repealed their abortion laws. Finally, in 1973, the Supreme Court struck down all existing laws banning abortion in the court case Roe V. Wade. The Roe V. Wade court case unfolded when in 1970, two female attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of “Jane Roe,” a pregnant and unmarried woman. They claimed that a Texas law banning abortion, except to save the mother's life, was unconstitutional. The case went to the Supreme Court in 1973, and the court made the final ruling that the law was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment's right to privacy clause. The ruling affected laws in 46 states that banned abortion and paved the way for women to receive appropriate medical treatment when they wanted an abortion. Alt...... middle of paper ...... they didn't choose. Abortion should be legal because women have "a right to privacy by reason of their personal liberty," as the Supreme Court ruled Roe V. Wade in 1973. This right to privacy allows men and for women to be equal. Another reason why abortion should be legal is because women deserve full ownership and rights over their own bodies, giving them the ability to decide their own future. Abortion should also be legal because women deserve safe and hygienic medical care regardless of the procedure. There is no reason why women like “Jane Roe” and Megan Padilla should be forced to procreate and resort to dangerous procedures when America is a free country. Those who oppose abortion cite the rapid development of the fetus, but they do not think about a woman's fundamental right to choose. Roe V Wade should be upheld and abortion should and will be available to all.