Every American is aware of the historic Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, and its divisive aftermath, but most do not know the history behind the controversy. When our country was founded, abortions before quickening, which is when the fetus begins to move, were commonplace and accepted as a normal part of life. Abortifacient drugs were sold in pharmacies, advertised in newspapers, and could even be bought through mail order. When these failed, procedures were also readily available. States did not even begin to pass laws banning abortion until the mid-1800s, and even the Catholic Church did not condemn these abortions until 1869.
