What We're Up Against...
Everything in existence has at least one person who apposes it, no matter what it is and no matter what the reason. That is certainly the case here, as many people across the world appose abortion for numerous reasons, whether it be religious, moral, ethical, or other reasons. However, the trouble starts when those who appose abortion, a basic reproductive-related medical procedure, gain positions of power.
Pre Roe v. Wade
While the feminist movement bounced back and forth over their views on abortions, conflict over abortion reform began to pick up in the 1960's as state legilators attempted to liberalize laws banning abortions [1]. And with that the anti-abortion had become a politicized movement. Catholics, who apposed abortion for religious reasons, are key voters for the Republican Party, and as they became to show interest in the topic, the Party's strategists urged Richard Nixon to include attacks on abortion during his campaign [2]. Throughout the late 1960s and into the 1970s, the Catholic Church was one of abortions biggests threats.
Post Roe v. Wade
Anti-abortion movements began well before Roe v. Wade and has continued to present day. In fact, the anti-abortion movement made the most ground after abortion was legalized. Once the pro-choice movement gained ground, they were immediately forced to defend their newly obtained rights [3]. Once federally legalized, the oppostion moved their focus from state legislatures to Congress, pushing for a constitutional amendment that would ban abortion [4]. Once they realized they wouldn't be successful in obtaining an amendment, they pushed for federal legislation that would prohibit abortion and ban federal funding of abortions for women on Medicaid [5]. In 1976, the anti-abortion movement won their first major victory with the Hyde Amendment to the Medicaid appropriations act [6]. This was what they had been waiting three years for, the ban of federal funding for abortions [7].
Moving into the 1980s and 1990s, many of the battles were fought in the streets in form of protest [8]. Anti-abortion groups would gather outside of abortion clinics attempting to shame patients entering or completely block the enterance [9]. As time moved into the 2000s, state legislatures continued the battle on the legal level [10].