In the early 70s abortion was illegal in the United States. During this time many underground abortions took place, and the majority of them were unsafe, unsanitary, and often unfairly priced. Many women died or had injuries that lasting up to an entire lifetime from these kinds of abortions. If a woman wanted to get an abortion at this point in history she could potentially obtain a legal abortion if she was raped, or succeeded in claiming to be raped, but this was often only legal if the rape was documented and proven legally, she could obtain an abortion from an illegal source, reputable or not, she could attempt it herself, she could attempt get a very expensive one in another country, or she could not have an abortion even if she wished to have one, often the most likely case. Of course, many people were very anti-abortion at this time, mostly reasoning with religion, and moral opinion. It is rough political territory because you are trying to fight for the rights of two human beings, the mother and the baby. You essentially have to choose one over the other to determine a solution.
After a long history of dangerous, illegal abortions a group of women in Chicago decided that they needed to satisfy the great public need that they saw for safe, clean, affordable, and comfortable abortions. They decided that picketing, marching, and sit ins were not going to work. They decided that direct action would work, and as medical professionals, they had the tools and knowledge they needed to help and so they did. JANE collective was formed in 1969 and operated until 1973, the year that Roe v. Wade legally changed abortion laws in the united states. The group performed 12,000 abortions for around 25.00 apiece. And the most incredible fact? No one died.The group eventually disbanded after being raided and officially disappeared after abortion became legal and the need for their work was no longer there.
The case of Roe v. Wade changed the face of abortions in American dramatically, giving women much more freedom and control over their own bodies, lifestyles, and future. The drama began in 1969 when a woman named Norma McCorvey, alias Jane Roe, discovered she was pregnant, and decided that she did not want a child. She tried to claim it was rape and obtain a legal abortion but she failed. She decided to continue fighting and brought her case to court with legal backing, and the case eventually reached supreme court upon repeal. Here the court deemed abortion a fundamental right under the United States Constitution, and thereby subjecting all laws attempting to restrict it to strict scrutiny in a court of law. Interestingly, Norma McCorvey is now a Christian pro-life activist.
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