Roe v Wade Aftermath in the United States
Roe v Wade Aftermath
Introduction to Roe v Wade Aftermath
Reaction to the Court’s decision was complicated. Among many groups, the decision intensified divisions over the issue of abortion. For example, the Roman Catholic Church and some other religious groups were horrified by the legalization of abortion, which they had long opposed. However, many Protestant churches supported the result, arguing that the autonomy of women was an important concern and that unwanted children were often the victims of abuse and neglect.
Most Republicans attacked the Court’s ruling, while Democrats generally endorsed the decision. But support for the ruling initially cut across party lines. For example, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Republican governor of New York, endorsed the decision. Texas Republican politician George Bush also supported the decision, although later as president of the United States he would strongly oppose abortion.
Since the Roe decision, the Supreme Court has heard more than a dozen cases involving attempts by the states or the national government to restrict abortion. In deciding these cases, the Court has modified its decision in Roe v. Wade by allowing states to regulate abortion in many additional ways. However, the Court has always maintained that at least in the first trimester a woman has a right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy.
The Court has allowed some states to impose restrictions that make an abortion difficult to obtain, particularly for low-income women and teenagers. For example, in 1977 the Court allowed states to impose restrictions on the use of Medicaid funds to pay for abortions for poor women. The Court has also upheld state laws requiring that pregnant girls under the age of 18 must notify at least one parent before obtaining an abortion.
Many legal analysts have expected the Supreme Court to reverse the Roe decision in subsequent cases involving abortion. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush both promised their supporters they would appoint Supreme Court justices who would vote to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. Nevertheless, despite five Supreme Court appointments by these two presidents, the core elements of the Roe decision remain intact.
The complexity of the Roe decision and its aftermath is illustrated by the changing responses to it by some of the people involved in the case. Norma McCorvey, who sued under the pseudonym ‘Jane Roe,’ has since become an opponent of abortion. On the other hand, Henry Wade, who was the defendant in Roe because of his position as Dallas County district attorney, claims never to have read the opinion and concedes that ‘in some cases abortion is justified.’
Polls show most Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of abortion. However, more than 80 percent of adults believe abortion should be legal under some circumstances. In a 1997 Gallup Poll, about 15 percent of Americans said they opposed abortion under all circumstances, including cases where the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest or where the pregnancy might lead to the death of the pregnant woman. On the other hand, 22 percent said abortion should be legal under any circumstances. Most Americans-61 percent-believe in a compromise position, declaring that abortion should be legal under some circumstances but not others.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about Roe v Wade Aftermath in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
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