Background

In the twentieth century people's ideas about sexual relationships began to change and become more liberal. Birth control and abortions were easier to get in different states. Abortion laws were sow times not stated clearly so the doctors did not no if they were breaking the law or not. Many people said that the government should not tell people what to do in sexual relations, many say it's an invasion of privacy.

What led up to the case

• - Jane Roe was pregnant and unmarried.
• Wanted to have an abortion but couldn't under Texas law unless life was in danger.
• Challenged the law by suing wade, who was the district attorney where she lived.
• Argued that she had a right to privacy and should be able to decide whether she should have an abortion or not.
• Also argued that the right of privacy comes from combining several rights in the "Bill of Rights"
• The state argued that "the right to life of an unborn child is superior to the right of privacy of the mother"
• The state also decided that this is a topic that needed to be handed off to the legislature to decide how to handle
• A three-judge federal district court ruled the Texas abortion law unconstitutional
• The case was appealed to the U.S Supreme Court

●Verdict was decided on Jan. 22, 1973.

●By a vote of 7-2 the court held that a woman’s right to privacy was entitled by the 14th Amendment.

●The decision gave women total control over their pregnancy during the first trimester (the first three months).

Justice Blackmun wrote the opinion for the majority, which recognized that a woman’s choice whether to have an abortion is protected by her right to privacy. Justices Stewart, Burger and Douglas wrote the concurring opinions.