This Day in History: <br />U.S. Supreme Court <br />Legalizes Abortion January 22, 1973 In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that as part of their constitutional right to privacy, women can terminate a pregnancy during its first two trimesters. The controversial ruling essentially <br />reversed a century of anti-abortion <br />legislation in the United States. It was the result of a <br />call by many American <br />women for control over their <br />own reproductive processes. The legalization of abortion became<br /> a divisive issue, with pro-choice and pro-life organizations strengthening their memberships <br />and political influence. On three separate occasions in the 1980s and 90s, the Supreme Court narrowly reaffirmed the decision. With the current majority of <br />conservative justices on the Court, <br />there are fears that the historic legislation <br />is vulnerable to reversal.
