Gradually, … penalties were increased. By the end of the 1950's a large majority of the jurisdictions banned abortion,how … life of the mother. The exceptions, Alabama and theistrict … mother's health. Three Statesitted … has resulted in adoption, by about one-third of the States, of less stringent laws, most of them patterned after the ALI , set forth as Appendix B to the opinion in . It is thus apparentthatat common … at the time of the adoption of our Constitution, … under most American statutes currently in effect. Phrasing it anothera woman enjoyed a substantially broader right to terminate a pregnancy than she does in most States today. … the 19th century. Even later, the law continued for some time to treat less punitively an abortion procured in early pregnancy...The anti-abortion mood prevalent in this country … Indeed, the attitude of the profession may haveplayed a significant role in the enactment of stringent criminal abortion legislation … causes is a wide-spread popular ignorance of the true character of the crime-a belief, even among mothers themselves, that the foetus is not alive till after the period of quickening. ‘The second of the agents alluded to is the factthatthe … extent of this crime is found in the grave defects of our laws, both common and statute, asregardsthe … independentand ac… the child before birth, as a living being. … based, and only based, upon mistaken and exploded medical dogmas.With … acknowledges the foetus in utero and itsinherent rights, … purposes;while … and as criminally affected,it fails to recognize … andto … as yetdenies all protection.’ … such unwarrantable destruction of human life,’ calling upon stateto … 78. In 1871 a long and vivid report was submitted by the Committee on Criminal Abortion. It ended withtheobservation, … withhuman life. In … of all denominations to the perverted views of morality entertained by a large class of females-aye, and men also, on this important question.’ ...the Committee on Human Reproduction urged the adoption of a stated policy of opposition to induced abortion, except when there is ‘documented medical evidence’ of a threat to the health or life of the mother, orthat the child … ‘may be born … legally established statutory or forcible rape or incest may constitute a threatto … of medical information by physicians to state legislatures in their consideration of legislation regarding therapeutic abortion was ‘to be considered consistent with the principles of ethics of the American Medical Association.’
