The Shift in Abortion Policy in the 1800s Essay -- History Abortion Fe

The Shift in abortion form _or_ system of government in the 1800sIn 1800 no jurisdiction in the United Sates had enacted some(prenominal) statutes whatsoever on the subject of abortion... Yet by 1900 virtually each jurisdiction in the United States had laws upon its books that proscribed the practice sharply and tell most abortions to be criminal offenses (Mohr p. VII).Societal Changes from the Early 1800s to the Mid 1800sDuring the premature 1800s, abortion at the beginning of a pregnancy was neither vicious nor criminal. Common law held that before quickening, the first perception of fetal motion by the mother, usually during the second trimester, the fetus was non alive or independent. After quickening abortion was a criminal offense, beca ingestion the fetus had demonstrate the beginnings of independent life (Mohr p. 1). Since the point of quickening varied from adult female to woman and depended upon her word, it was near impossible to prosecute criminal abortions (Mo hr p. 2). Most of the laws of the early 1800s were aimed not at prosecuting women for obtaining an abortion, but rather to protect them from medical examination malpractice such as poisoning, physical harm, and unwanted abortions (Mohr p. 21, 28) (see mollie smith case link).Information on abortion was available to women primarily through home medical manuals and journals. Abortion information was usually available in two sections of home medical books how to ?release obstructed menses? and ?dangers? to avoid during pregnancy. The latter section was a sort of how-to in reverse that could be effectively put to use by the reader. The most widely consulted work, Buchans Domestic Medicine, advised emetics and a medley of prepared steel, powdered myrrh, and aloe to ?restore menstrual flow.? Under caus... ...tives, sixth ed. cost Publishers. 2001 Mohr, James C. Abortion in America The Origins and Evolution of National Policy, 1800-1900. Oxford University invoke New York, New York. 19 78. New York Times, Aug 23 1871, Aug 27 1871, Aug 30 1871, Aug 31 1871, Oct 29 1871.Shryock, R. H. Medicine and beau monde in America 1660-1860. Ithaca, NY Cornell. 1960Starr, P. Medicine, Economy and Society in Nineteenth century America, Journal of Social History. 1977. pp10, 588-607.Taverne, Dick. The Huge Benefits of GM are being Blocked by Blind Opposition, The Guardian 3 Mar. 2004 24.Wertz, R., and Wertz D. Lying-In A History of Childbirth in America. New York unleash Press. 1997Wilson, Richard K. DNA 50 Years Later, St. Louis Post 27 Feb. 2003 B7.Zeitz, Joshua M. The Big falsehood about the Little Pill, NEED NAME OF PAPER OR JOURNAL27 Dec. 2004 A17.