The History of Banning Abortion in America: White Male Patriarchy With a Dash of Racism

For a large chunk of American history, abortion was legal, and then some white guys plus some racist guys got an idea

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

In conservative Republican circles, there has been for decades an almost cultish worship of the Founding Fathers of America. Tied to that is a claimed reverence for the Constitution of the United States, along with an odd notion of “originalist” interpretation of that document for the purposes of Supreme Court cases. Republicans are big on all of that, aren’t they? The Founders, the Constitution, “original intent.” Ever since the Tea Party kicked off around 2010, this avowed reverence really ramped up. They even played dress-up, donning colonial-style attire as they shouted “Don’t tread on me!” Ah yes, liberty is so very important.

As it turns out, they are quite right. Liberty is very important.

Let us look at a bit of history, shall we? It may surprise you to learn that turning back the clock to that venerated past would mean abortion being legal.

The pilgrims were having abortions, legally, happily, no problem