Before the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, the legality of abortion in the United States varied widely from state to state. In many states, abortion was illegal except to save the life of the mother, while in others, it was more broadly available. This patchwork of laws led to a situation where women seeking an abortion often had to travel to a state where it was legal, which could be expensive and difficult. Additionally, the lack of access to safe and legal abortion led to many women seeking illegal abortions, which were often dangerous and could lead to serious health complications. This situation ultimately led to the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide and established a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.
