Before Roe v. Wade: Voices that shaped the abortion debate before the Supreme Court’s ruling

Originally published in 2010, the second edition of this documentary history by Reva Siegel and Linda Greenhouse is now available. As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, it is crucial to understand the political context of both the decision in Roe v Wade and its aftermath.

The documents in this collection and the introductions that frame the book and each chapter illuminate the ways that the political movements on the left and the right shaped the history of abortion rights before and after Roe. The documents give voice to activists who have not been previously recognized as actors in the movements, religious institutions, and in political parties.

The new edition includes an afterward that examines the ways that the conflict about abortion escalated outside the court system in the decade leading up to Roe, and the years just after. This book will be an invaluable teaching tool for courses in 20th century U.S. history; the history of reproductive law and policy, and the history of social movements.

The second edition is available as a downloadable PDF on the Social Science Research Network web site at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2131505, at the Yale Law School library at http://documents.law.yale.edu/before-roe

Copies are also available through

• Google books – http://goo.gl/srgXz
• Amazon –  http://www.amazon.com/Before-Roe-v-Wade-abortion/dp/0615648215/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351641026
• Barnes & Noble –  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-roe-v-wade-linda-greenhouse/1100403225?ean=9780615648217