In short
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the Constitution protected a woman's right to abortion before fetal viability, striking down abortion bans across nearly every state. The decision, written by Justice Harry Blackmun, became one of the most consequential and divisive rulings in American legal history.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protected the right of pregnant women to choose to have an abortion before the point of fetal viability. The decision struck down many state abortion laws, and it sparked an ongoing abortion debate in the United States about whether, or to what extent, abortion should be legal, who should decide the legality of abortion, and what the role of moral and religious views in the political sphere should be. The decision also shaped debate concerning which methods the Supreme Court should use in constitutional adjudication. Amid years of sustained opposition from the anti-abortion movement and many legal conservatives, the Supreme Court overruled Roe in 2022 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
As it was happening
14 voices, 19092 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Roe v. Wade Case Filed
Jane Roe (pseudonym for Norma McCorvey) filed suit in federal court in Texas challenging the constitutionality of the state's abortion ban.
Voices from this moment (1)
Roe v. Wade Case Filed
Mar 17
“Jane Roe (pseudonym for Norma McCorvey) filed suit in…”
As it was happening
14 voices, 19092 days.
Day 0 · March 17, 1970
Roe v. Wade Case Filed
Jane Roe (pseudonym for Norma McCorvey) filed suit in federal court in Texas challenging the constitutionality of the state's abortion ban.
“Jane Roe (pseudonym for Norma McCorvey) filed suit in…”
- Roe v. Wade Case Filed, Mar 17
Day 636 · December 13, 1971
First Supreme Court Argument
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Roe v. Wade on December 13, 1971. A second round of arguments occurred on October 11, 1972.
“The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Roe v.”
- First Supreme Court Argument, Dec 13
Day 1042 · January 22, 1973
Decision Issued
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the Constitution protects the right to abortion before fetal viability. Justice Blackmun's majority opinion established the trimester framework, allowing states to regulate abortion differently in each trimester.
Day 1042 · January 22, 1973
Companion Case Doe v. Bolton
On the same day, the Court decided Doe v. Bolton, striking down Georgia's restrictive abortion statute and expanding the definition of health exceptions.
“Supreme Court Rules Abortion is a Constitutional Right in…”
- The New York Times, Jan 23
“Court Legalizes Abortion Nationwide; States Lose Power to…”
- The Washington Post, Jan 23
“America's Supreme Court Legalises Abortion in Historic…”
- BBC, Jan 23
“The Great Abortion Debate: Court Settles It - For Now”
- TIME Magazine, Feb 5
“USA: Oberster Gerichtshof legalisiert Abtreibung / U.”
- Der Spiegel, Feb 1
“On the same day, the Court decided Doe v.”
- Companion Case Doe v. Bolton, Jan 22
“The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the Constitution protects…”
- Decision Issued, Jan 22
Day 2297 · June 30, 1976
Planned Parenthood v. Danforth
The Court upheld certain state regulations (waiting periods, parental consent) while preserving core abortion access, beginning a pattern of permitting restrictions.
“The Court upheld certain state regulations (waiting…”
- Planned Parenthood v. Danforth, Jun 30
Day 7048 · July 3, 1989
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
The Court upheld Missouri's restrictions including a viability test, signaling willingness to limit Roe's scope. Chief Justice Rehnquist signaled openness to overruling Roe entirely.
“The Court upheld Missouri's restrictions including a…”
- Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, Jul 3
Day 8140 · June 29, 1992
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
The Court reaffirmed the central holding of Roe but replaced the trimester framework with the 'undue burden' standard, permitting broader state restrictions including waiting periods and parental notification.
“The Court reaffirmed the central holding of Roe but…”
- Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Jun 29
Day 13546 · April 18, 2007
Gonzales v. Carhart
The Court upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, the first federal abortion restriction since Roe, with Justice Anthony Kennedy writing that some abortion procedures could be prohibited based on moral objections.
“The Court upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of…”
- Gonzales v. Carhart, Apr 18
Day 19092 · June 24, 2022
Dobbs Decision Overturns Roe
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Court overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, returning abortion regulation to individual states. The 6-3 decision held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.
“In Dobbs v.”
- Dobbs Decision Overturns Roe, Jun 24
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Vote
0-2 majority
States Affected
0 states had abortion bans or restrictions struck down
Lifetime Before Reversal
0 years (overturned June 24, 2022)
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME Magazine.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States · Jan 23, 1973
"Supreme Court Rules Abortion is a Constitutional Right in First Trimester"
In a sweeping decision that will reshape abortion law across America, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the Constitution protects a woman's right to terminate pregnancy before fetal viability. The landmark ruling invalidates abortion bans in 46 states.
- Jan 23, 1973
The Washington Post
Newspaper · United States
"Court Legalizes Abortion Nationwide; States Lose Power to Ban Procedure"
The Supreme Court's decision to strike down state abortion restrictions marks a historic assertion of individual liberty and represents the most significant expansion of reproductive rights in modern American jurisprudence. Justice Harry Blackmun authored the majority opinion.
- Feb 5, 1973
TIME Magazine
Magazine · United States
"The Great Abortion Debate: Court Settles It - For Now"
Synthesized from period reporting - TIME's cover story examines the seismic implications of the Court's three-trimester framework and the fierce backlash already building among religious conservatives and state legislatures determined to challenge the ruling.
- Jan 23, 1973
BBC
TV · United Kingdom
"America's Supreme Court Legalises Abortion in Historic Ruling"
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that women have a constitutional right to abortion, overturning decades of state-level prohibitions. The decision sends shockwaves through American society and raises questions about how Britain's own abortion framework compares.
- Feb 1, 1973
Der Spiegel
Magazine · West Germany
"USA: Oberster Gerichtshof legalisiert Abtreibung / U.S. Supreme Court Legalizes Abortion"
DE: 'Der Oberste Gerichtshof der USA hat entschieden, dass Frauen das Recht auf Abtreibung haben.' / EN: Germany's leading news weekly reports on the American Supreme Court's abortion decision, contrasting it with West Germany's own restrictive laws and sparking debate among European policymakers.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Roe v. Wade
en.wikipedia.org