Jane Roe, an unmarried pregnant woman, challenged a Texas law banning abortion in 1973, arguing for a woman's right to privacy and abortion access. The Supreme Court found no constitutional protection for the unborn and that states lacked compelling reasons to restrict abortion, legalizing it but intensifying debate between pro-life and pro-choice groups over this landmark for women's rights and judicial history.

1. The Start of the Abortion Debate

2.  1973
 Jane Roe is unmarried and pregnant
 She is not able to have an abortion
in Texas because the law would not
allow it due to the fact that it did
not threaten her life
 Jane takes the case to court to
argue for a women’s right to
privacy, and the protection of
abortion access

3.  The court turns to the constitution for
guidance
 They find no protection of an unborn or
“potential” citizen
 Conclude that the state has no compelling
reason to restrict abortion

4.  Made abortion a more debated issue
◦ Pro-life v Pro-choice emerges
 Landmark for women’s rights and for judicial
history
 More of moderate decision
 Did not extend abortion rights as much as it
could have
 Decision does more for physician freedoms
than for women’s