Abortion, or the deliberate termination of unwanted pregnancy, has occurred in some form in human society since ancient times. Nevertheless, amid the Victorian morals of the mid-nineteenth century, it became one of Western society’s most contentious issues, sparking bitter religious and ethical debates that continued into the twenty-first century. In 1973 the Supreme Court case known as Roe v. Wade became the most pivotal moment for the issue in the history of the United States.