Roe v. Wade is one of the most important decisions ever made by the United States Supreme Court. This case has impacted the lives of so many people and I believe no other topic related to the feminist movement has sparked so much debate, rage and passion. Abortion has always been a subject of controversy between the old and the young, between the rich and the poor. No matter who you are, you have an opinion on this topic and it's probably a strong one. The controversy arises because there are many different positions one can take on the subject (USHistory.org). This article will discuss the entire case, from how it all started to how it has affected the law today. Perhaps after understanding the whole matter, one can make an informed decision regarding one's views on the matter. When the United States became an independent nation from England, English common law was followed by most states of the time, not allowing an abortion after the mother could feel the movements of the baby in her belly. That moment when a mother feels a baby move is described as acceleration. Before 1973, it was up to the states to decide whether or not abortion should be legal in their specific state. For example, Connecticut in 1821 approved a law that made it more difficult for apothecaries to sell poisons to women in order to deliberately end their pregnancies. Additionally, in 1829, New York made it a misdemeanor to terminate a pregnancy after hastening and a misdemeanor to obtain an abortion before hastening. Many people have argued that these laws were not passed for ethical reasons, but rather because of the safety of the method used. By 1900, forty-four states banned abortion in virtually all circumstances that did not threaten health...... middle of paper ......de | Casebriefs." Casebriefs. Np, nd Web. March 18, 2014. "Roe v. Wade: His History and Impact." Planned Parenthood. Np, nd Web. March 18, 2014. "Two Abortion Cases." The New York Times, nd Web. March 18, 2014. "WEBSTER v. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES." Wade." CNN. Cable NewsNetwork, January 22, 2013. Web. March 16.. 2014. .