Abortion Essay -- Increase Abortion Availability

Should abortion be allowed in the United States? If so, then under what circumstances? Abortion has been one of the most heatedly debated topics in the U.S. for more than a century. This paper explores the history and international use of abortion, as well as the empirical and moral claims made by both sides of the issue. We will also examine the key positions taken on abortion and look at those affected by it. Based on extensive research and analysis, this paper will recommend that the government increase abortion funding and availability. Abortion History: Abortion has been around since the earliest times. The first recorded abortion recipe dates back to 2600 B.C. (â€Å"History of Abortion†). Ancient societies supported abortion as a means of controlling the population (â€Å"Abortion in Law, History, and Religion†). The first known abortion regulation was outlined in 4th century A.D. when St. Augustine declared Catholic law to allow abortion up to 80 days for the female fetus and 40 days for the male fetus (â€Å"History of Abortion†). However, in 1588 Pope Sixtus publicly forbade all abortions (â€Å"History of Abortion†). One of the first countries to outlaw abortion by law, Great Britain, declared abortion a misdemeanor in 1803 (â€Å"History of Abortion†). In the United States, abortion laws began to appear in the nineteenth century (â€Å"Abortion in Law, History, and Religion†). Public and legal attitudes toward abortion have significantly changed in America since 1800. Women in the early 1800’s rarely sought abortion, even though legal restriction to obtain an abortion was almost non-existent (Sauer). Until the mid-nineteenth century, first trimester abortions were legal under common law (Abortion in Law, History, and Religio... ...quest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=36&did=000000010987507&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=4&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1080408602&clientId=60765>. {scholarly primary; print via the internet; authoritative} Yishai, Yael. â€Å"Public Ideas and Public Policy: Abortion Politics in Four Democracies.† Comparative Politics, Vol. 25, No. 2. (Jan., 2013), pp. 207-228. Web. 1 May 2015. . {primary scholarly; print via internet; authoritative} Zhou, W., et al. â€Å"Risk of Spontaneous Abortion Following Induce Abortion.† Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Jan. 2010. Web. 1 May 2015. . {scholarly primary; print via the internet; authoritative}