Changes

The hippie culture and the breakdown of morals in the 1960s had an effect in legalizing abortion.  The original leaders of the women's rights movement were opposed to abortion.  Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, for example, were opposed to abortion.  Alice Paul, a famous advocate of women's rights in the 1920s, called abortion "the ultimate exploitation of women."  Democratic President Jimmy Carter was (and is) against it, but did nothing to reduce or stop it.

The hippie culture and the breakdown of morals in the 1960s had an effect in legalizing abortion.  The original leaders of the women's rights movement were opposed to abortion.  Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, for example, were opposed to abortion.  Alice Paul, a famous advocate of women's rights in the 1920s, called abortion "the ultimate exploitation of women."  Democratic President Jimmy Carter was (and is) against it, but did nothing to reduce or stop it.

The culture of "me first" and "do whatever you want" in the 1960s led to laws legalizing abortion in California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n14_v41/ai_7813831</ref>  But there were signs that the tide was changing back to pro-life.  In 1972, a referendum in Michigan to legalize abortion was soundly defeated by the voters.

The culture of "me first" and "do whatever you want" in the 1960s led to laws legalizing abortion in California, New York, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n14_v41/ai_7813831</ref>  But there were signs that the tide was changing back to pro-life.  In 1972, a referendum in Michigan to legalize abortion was soundly defeated by the margin of 61-39% by the voters.

A different type of "feminist" emerged in 1960s that opposed marriage and supported abortion.  Betty Friedan, one of the leaders of this new feminist movement, published "The Feminine Mystique" in 1963.  She argued that popular magazines brainwashed women into domesticity.

A different type of "feminist" emerged in 1960s that opposed marriage and supported abortion.  Betty Friedan, one of the leaders of this new feminist movement, published "The Feminine Mystique" in 1963.  She argued that popular magazines brainwashed women into domesticity.

In 1966, Friedan founded the National Organization for Women (NOW), and demanded a new right to abortion and passage of the so-called "Equal Rights Amendment."

In 1966, Friedan founded the National Organization for Women (NOW), and demanded a new right to abortion and passage of the so-called "Equal Rights Amendment."

The Supreme Court stunned the country by declaring abortion to be a constitutional right on January 22, 1973, in the case of ''Roe v. Wade''.  Even the woman "Jane Roe" in that case, whose real name is Norma McCorvey, now says the ruling was wrong and abortion is a mistake.  But the Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution provides for a right to abortion even though it is never mentioned anywhere in the original document, or any amendments, or any statements by those who drafted anything in the Constitution.  The Supreme Court, by a 7-2 vote, ruled that abortion is in the "penumbra" (shadowy area) of the Bill of Rights.  First the Supreme Court had turned its back on God in the school prayer decision of ''Engel v. Vitale'' in 1962, and then it turned its back on the image of God by legalizing abortion in ''Roe v. Wade'' in 1973.<ref>''Roe v. Wade'' was unprecedented but did cite a decision from the Warren Court, ''Griswold v. Connecticut'' (1965).</ref>

The Supreme Court stunned the country by declaring abortion to be a constitutional right on January 22, 1973, in the case of ''Roe v. Wade''.  Even the woman "Jane Roe" in that case, whose real name is Norma McCorvey, now says the ruling was wrong and abortion is a mistake.  But the Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution provides for a right to abortion even though it is never mentioned anywhere in the original document, or any amendments, or any statements by those who drafted anything in the Constitution.  The Supreme Court, by a 7-2 vote, ruled that abortion is in the "penumbra" (shadowy area) of the Bill of Rights.  One might observe that the Supreme Court first turned its back on prayer to God in ''Engel v. Vitale'' in 1962, and then turned its back on the image of God by legalizing abortion in ''Roe v. Wade'' in 1973.<ref>''Roe v. Wade'' was unprecedented but did cite a decision from the Warren Court, ''Griswold v. Connecticut'' (1965).</ref>

At the same time, this new breed of feminists was demanding passage of the so-called Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  It simply stated that:

At the same time, this new breed of feminists was demanding passage of the so-called Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  It simply stated that: