Part I : before 1960 -- Abortion in historical context -- Contraception and abortion in America before 1960 -- Part II : the abortion reform movement (1960-1972) -- The reformers -- Catalysts -- Reform activity in state legislatures (1967-1972) -- The politics of state legislative reform (1967-1973) -- Breakthrough in the courts -- The abortion situation worldwide -- Public opinion -- Philosophical arguments for and against the liberalization of abortion laws -- Part III : the 1973 abortion cases -- The law and the cases -- The immediate reaction to the abortion decisions -- Part IV : the battle lines are drawn (1974-1980) -- State legislative action and judicial response (1974-1980) -- Amending the constitution -- Politics and elections -- Part V : the Reagan and Bush administrations and beyond (1980- ) -- National politics -- State legislation during the 1980s -- New issues and problems.
