The Constant Abortion Debate

Jordan Loftin

Roe vs. Wade
Roe vs. Wade is how I began my research, this helped me realize abortion has been around for a while and many women today have the same opinion as Roe, along with many men today still have the same opinion as Wade. Not much has changed since 1970.

Law Change Since Roe vs. Wade
This site allowed me to show the dramatic change that happened in the 1970's but then when Republicans got a hold of the idea it all went back to pretty much the same. I learned that men were killed and abortion clinics were bombed, I had no idea people were this crazy.
Abortion First Becoming an Issue
From what it looks like, abortion seems to have been around for a long long time. But this site proved to me that it only came about in the 1800's and the riots began there. Who knew?
Sex Ed in 1950's
This youtube video gave me a laugh, I watched many of them but all they did was tell me stuff I already knew and it provided me with the info of no one really caring to tell children about abortion at the time.
Polls Today
I was not very surprised when I saw the polls today said republicans were mainly against abortion and democrats were for abortion. This site helped me come up with statistics on the crazy similarity between the opinion category of men and woman or old age and young age and then the crazy difference between democrats and republicans opinion.
Pro-Life
I used this pro-life site to see the pro-life opinion of all religions including atheists, I wanted to see they mindset of all pro-life voters and that is what I got. It also helped me realize how strongly opinionated people can be.
"Legitimate Rape"
Todd Akin is an ignorant man. That is what I learned from this site. I was shocked to hear that men these days believe things such as women can shut their body off in rape. This topic disgusts me. 

Abortion Today
Perfect timing for an event like this. This site helped me realized abortion arguments are happening today, as recent as Wednesday.

Politics and Views

Politics and Views

Politics and Views

Politics and Views 

 Politics and Views 

Politics and Views 

        The United States Supreme Court in the historical case, Roe v. Wade, in 1970, found that abortion was legal under certain circumstances. Given the history of abortion, not everyone realized that abortion was going to be a major focus in our political system as it is today. Prior to Roe v. Wade, abortion was not always a central political issue. In fact, it did not become an issue until the mid 19^th century and even then it was not a political issue. In the early 1800’s, abortions were allowed before women felt any fetal movement and for the most part, there was little debate on the morality or legality of these abortions. Beginning in the 1900’s, doctors began to question the practice of abortions. Many people believe those questions were not based on moral or legal grounds but rather professional and possible economic grounds. The doctors argued they were trying to prevent what they called “illegal doctors” from committing abortions because they were unsafe. Others believed that the doctors were trying to prevent the illegal doctors from stealing their practice. Over the years however, this professional or economic basis for the validity or not of abortions has become very politically charged. One party, the Republican party, uses the moral justification of pro-life, that God creates life and man does not have the right to take life, to argue against abortion. The Democratic party however uses the right to privacy or the right to choose as its justification that a woman should have the right to chose whether to have an abortion. Just this week, the US House of Representatives passed a bill banning abortions. The bill passed along the lines with the Republicans voting for the bill and the Democrats against it. During the debate over the bill, the republicans argue they are protecting the unborn, while the democrats argue they are protecting women's rights. When and how did this become a political issue? As will be discussed below, these two opposing views play a key role in our political system today.

        Surprisingly, the first conflict on abortion was not primarily about the morality of abortion. Rather the opposition to abortion was motivated by doctors professional concerns. As a result of these concerns, state laws were passed after medically trained doctors began complaining that what they called “illegal doctors” were performing abortions which were unsafe. The illegal doctors were basically practicing medicine without formal training and were taking away from the professional business. Much like our political parties today, the professional doctors stooped to the level scare tactics as well as trying to play upon others religious views. By making it a moral or religious issue it made people have to make a decision on whether they were “religious” or moral enough. In the beginning, the case did not have much support which means we can all conclude, it was probably made into a bigger deal than it actually was. In 1847, the American Medical Association (AMA) was founded, and after a hard-hitting campaign with much support from religious factions, it didn’t take long to ban all birth control related materials including information about abortion.

        Within my research, I watched many different 1950’s Sex Ed videos for young boys and girls and they said nothing about abortion. It was unreal for me to wrap my head around the fact that kids were not learning about such a violent and cruel subject going on in the world. I believed they would tell the little boys to not have sex but a quote from the video was, “It does not matter when you guys start being sexually active, that is usually up to you.” 20 years later, this would change.  For example, Democrats argue that children should learn real sex education in class and some even argue that condoms should be given out at school. Republicans on the other hand, argue that sex education classes should teach or promote abstinence. This reminds me of an awkward day in 8^th grade when I had to sign a petition stating I would stay abstinent until marriage. These opposing views are obvious in our political and religious society today.

        In 1970, abortion as a political issue was brought to the table when  Jana Roe filed a case against a Texas district attorney, Henry Wade. Jana Roe was an unmarried and pregnant woman from Texas. Under Texas law, it was a felony for her to get an abortion unless her life was on the line. Roe therefore sued Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas County, asking that the court enjoin Wade from prosecuting her if she had an abortion. Roe argued that she should not be prosecuted for having an abortion because she had a right to privacy guaranteed in the first, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments. After much argument, and in fact after Ms. Roe had her baby, the Supreme Court invalidated all state laws, including Texas’ law, prohibiting first trimester abortions, which meant women were allowed to abort the baby within the first three months. Soon after the Roe vs. Wade case, abortion went from being banned by all but a handful of states to being legal in all 50 due to it being categorized as a constitutional right. Since this decision, a woman’s right to privacy became a critical, political issue that has polarized the republican and democrat party.

         Ten years later, in the 1980’s, the number of doctors preforming abortions decreased. One reason the number decreased had to do with the wave of violence against abortion providers. One famous case involving a violent abortion activist was actually handled in federal court here in Huntsville, Alabama. Eric Rudolph, in 2005 plead guilty, to blowing up an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Rudolph plead guilty to the murder of a Birmingham police officer, as well as injuring a security guard and nurse during the bombing. Rudolph is currently serving four life sentences.  Many people argued the people giving abortions or having abortions were murderers, therefore, they killed them, makes sense, right? It is all just kind of ironic and disgusting. Another reason the number of abortion providers decreased had to do with the state-level abortion restriction laws changing. Republicans began to dominate state legislatures, many republicans do not have a problem supporting abortion but because of some having strong opinions against it. That is how republics are categorized. Pro-life. In 2011, states passed 92 laws restricting abortion. The number dropped to 43 in 2012 and then rose up to 70 in 2013.

         A main part of polls today are based upon whether the candidate represents pro-choice, meaning the woman chooses to have the baby or not, and pro-life, meaning the woman has no choice but to have the baby unless her life is at risk or if she was raped. When people compare men opinion vs. women opinion, or elderly opinion vs. younger opinion on abortion, the polls are pretty much even with disagreeing and agreeing. But when people get into Republican vs. Democrat opinion, 27% of republicans vote pro-choice and 69% vote for pro-life. 67% democrats vote pro-choice and 28% vote for pro-life. This issue today causes some citizens to not vote for an individual due to their beliefs on this subject. For example, a former republican congressman, Todd Akin, lost his way in an election due to the quote, “legitimate rape”. Ignorant people such as Todd Akin believe women have a way of shutting their body down while being raped. Therefore, they should not get pregnant. Meaning if they do get pregnant, they liked it in some way. He only believes “legitimate rape” should be aborted or if it is any threat to kill the mother.

        Overall, the world we live in today is based upon beliefs. Religious views do not always mean people are not for abortion, but most religions are pro-life. In other words, in some cases people say abortion is wrong and against their morals, but not illegal. Most Christians value human life and after life in Heaven, while some atheist believe this is the only life they have so it should not be ended and it should be valued. Throughout my research on abortion, the topic has become less black and white and turned into full color for me. By black and white I mean abortion has never been a huge thought process in my mind, I have always thought people were too dramatic about it. And now with the full color view I understand why people get abortions and why people do not believe in abortions.  I have more empathy towards the subject but I still understand the concept behind someone’s life being in danger, if someone is raped, or if someone is an ignorant sixteen year-old and is not ready to have a baby or be a parent, people should have the freedom to have an abortion. I am a strong believer in birth control and condoms. Safe sex is a good thing if you are not ready for the responsibility. It is shocking to me to think about how selfish men were in the mid 1900’s. Men were selfish in thinking they could go around with freedom of sex with whoever they want, but the woman were punished with a baby they could not afford to have because men were against birth control related items. I guess men were scared that with a little freedom, women would turn out just like them.             

Cinderella Man

Jordan Loftin
Prompt 1- Agree 

Biography 

History 

Food Lines 

 Fighting for Work

            Throughout the movie Cinderella Man, I was able to feel empathy towards men and women during the Great Depression. Not only was this movie historically accurate, but hearing and seeing actions happen made it much easier for me to understand what occurred. For example, this movie conveyed reasons women and men experienced stress differently, and strategies available for survival.

            One of the many accuracies of this movie had to do with the unemployment of 1.5 million Americans during this time. Knowing how many people we have in this world, it does not seem like too many people to say 1.5 million. Shock hit me when I saw men waking up every day and begging to be able to work on the dock. Only about ten men were chosen each day, can you imagine? Men were not able to support their families. A quote from the movie I remember directly was, “Women have to wait for men to fix every thing and men feeling like they have failed them every day.” This statement was very true for this time, women had to sit at home with the children and try and make every thing seem okay, when it was far from being okay.

            Some people depended on others during this time, but some hated the thought of getting help. The movie showed this by placing Jim Braddock in line at the government relief office asking for money with a sad look on his face, showing the viewers the struggles people had with being poor. I saw starving kids asking their parent if they could have more food, and drunken men stumbling down the street who did not know what to do with their lives.

            Religion is big during any time of struggle. For example, Jim and his wife prayed every day hoping they would be okay. When they lost electricity and heat, they prayed. But not only did some people rely on religion, they denied it. People wondered to themselves why they are stuck here in this miserable life if they have the almighty God. And that made some people give up.

            In conclusion, I agree Cinderella Man showed historical accuracy and helped me learn more about the Great Depression. They were dramatic about Max Baer’s character, making him seem like a mean man, and less dramatic about the fact that Braddock’s family in real life had five boys and two girls. In the movie they only had two boys and one girl. But does that not help you realize how much harder it was for them? Taking care of nine people? Sometimes you have to be more dramatic or less dramatic to convey what the true meaning of a time like this was. Women were hopeless, and men were hopeless, the Great Depression was heart breaking. 

Jordan's Fun Day in Birmingham!!!!!

Never Give Up 

            To be honest, I have never really looked into The Children's March or thought about the Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Baptist Church. In class we watched a very powerful video before the trip to Birmingham to visit these cool places, and I expected the video was going to be boring but it only caused me to become more interested in the subject. I have never been able to wrap my mind around how racist people can be in this day and age, much less back then. Killing four little girls? Throwing police dogs on people, even little kids? The people of this time showed no mercy.
            As we arrived to 16th Baptist Church where the four little girls were bombed and killed, I felt a sudden sadness in my heart. This is where many families will never be able to look at the building the same. The wonderful man who filled us in on stuff "you can't find on google" had a sense of humor, and that shocked me. It shocked me because I would think this would be such a serious moment or place, therefore it wasn't a joking matter. But his thoughts were, all glory to God. He had such things as urine thrown on him, just for being a black person in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can you imagine?
            Walking through the Civil Rights Institute made me cringe. Seeing that KKK uniform made me think I would see that thing in my nightmares. Seeing the little that blacks had, but how big they made it out to be, it made me happy. The blacks simply new people were ignorant but made the best of the situation. Yes, some were violent but when Martin Luther King jr. asked for them to tone it down and to prove a point, they quit. Those children marched into that police car proudly, they knew it would all be over soon.
            If anyone ever argues that the Civil Rights Field Trip is a waste of time, they are wrong. The difference between hearing about these events and seeing the artifacts was something you need to experience. I try to have as much empathy as I can, and it is much easier to do when you SEE it. My opinion of the Civil Rights' Issues remains the same, it never should have existed.

Questions about World War I

When and Why did it start

World War 1 timeline 

The US entering the War 

Treaty of Versailles

Casualty Rates 

1) The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the archduke of Austria Hungary on June 28th, 1914 and the war began one month later on July 28, 1914 when Austria declared war on Serbia. Not too many days later Germany declared war on Russia, then France, and then invaded Belgium which lead to Britain declaring war on Germany. Britain, France and Russia formed the Triple Entente, while Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy comprised the Triple Alliance. 

2) The US entered World War 1 on April 6, 1917. Unrestricted submarine warfare was the main reason President Wilson asked to declare war on Germany on April the 2nd. 4 days later, the US joined their allies (Britain, France, and Russia). 


3) On November 11, 1918, World War I came to an end due to the peace treaty named The Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on June 28, 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. 

4) "The main terms of the Versailles Treaty were:

(1) the surrender of all German colonies as League of Nations mandates;

(2) the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France;

(3) cession of Eupen-Malmedy to Belgium, Memel to Lithuania, the Hultschin district to Czechoslovakia,

(4) Poznania, parts of East Prussia and Upper Silesia to Poland;

(5) Danzig to become a free city;

(6) plebiscites to be held in northern Schleswig to settle the Danish-German frontier;

(7) occupation and special status for the Saar under French control; (8) demilitarization and a fifteen-year occupation of the Rhineland;

(9) German reparations of £6,600 million;

(10) a ban on the union of Germany and Austria;

(11) an acceptance of Germany's guilt in causing the war;

(11) provision for the trial of the former Kaiser and other war leaders;

(12) limitation of Germany's army to 100,000 men with no conscription, no tanks, no heavy artillery, no poison-gas supplies, no aircraft and no airships;

(13) the limitation of the German Navy to vessels under 100,000 tons, with no submarines" (The Terms) 

The United States did not sign the Treaty of Versailles because they disagreed with its terms, specifically, the high price that Germany was to pay for its role as aggressor. Instead, the U.S. negotiated its own settlement with Germany in 1921. 

5) Did Gavrilo Princip regret the assassination of Franz Ferdinand? Was it worth all the deaths? 

Prohibition 

Prohibition 

Prohibition

Prohibition

Prohibition

Prohibition

Prohibition: The Noble Experiment 

I learned how violent people became throughout prohibition. It was a really valuable source.

USH Text Book: Prohibition Article

I learned how most middle class started out supporting prohibition and it began to reduce drinking in the area but in others it produced violence. It was a really valuable source. 

18th Amendment 

I learned what the 18th amendment actually said. It was a really valuable source. 

The Volstead Act and Related Prohibition Documents

I learned there were such things as speakeasy  clubs, so many ways to sneak around prohibition. This was a really valuable source. 

Why Prohibition?

I learned who started prohibition and why they believed drinking was bad. It was a really valuable source. 

Anti-Saloon League  

I learned about them and the christians teamed up and were the persuasion of prohibition all together. This was a really valuable source. 

                    In January of 1920, the 18th Amendment was approved. The 18th Amendment hoped to take away the manufacture, sale, transport, import, or export of alcoholic beverages. It all began with the persuasion of the Anti-Saloon League and went down hill from there. 

                    Anti-Saloon League was a powerful, religious national organization. The campaign was a national effort of collaboration, communication, and persuasion. The League focused single handedly on the issue of prohibition and worked with many churches during the process. The leaders of this program were alarmed at the drinking behavior of Americans, and were concerned it was spreading within the immigrants coming from Europe. During 1913, in Columbus, Ohio, they announced the campaign to later persuade Congress to initiate what became the 18th amendment. 

                    Within the beginning of the 18th Amendment, it did not take long for violence and rebellion to strike. The 18th Amendment reduced drinking in some areas by 30% but those who did not agree became very violent and disobedient towards the law. For example, in New York city alone there were up to 100,000 "speakeasy" clubs, meaning they secretly sold alcohol. Rebellion was everywhere. People of America even did such things as hide alcohol in books. 

                     Have you ever heard of bootleggers? Seller of illegal alcohol? Well, people of the government during this time acted as if they were bootleggers and poisoned the alcohol. They knew several hundred thousand Americans would die, but figured people dying was okay if they were removing rebellious people who drink alcohol, bad people. One thing I found shocking was people who supported prohibition suggested such things as: those who drank should be hung by the tongue beneath and airplane and flown over the country, excluded from all churches, tortured, branded, whipped, etc. 

                      People who called themselves Christians were huge on hypocrisy and ironic judgement during this time. The year the 18th Amendment was passed, John Barleycorn died. John Barleycorn was the representation of alcohol and people celebrated his death. How crazy is that? Celebrating death? I feel the religious were motivated because they loved the opportunity to preach and persuade Americans that drinking was bad, drinking was a sin, but how religious is it to exclude people from church? 

                     In conclusion, this was an unsuccessful innovation. Those who rebelled got their way. Roosevelt repealed prohibition and in 1933 the 21st Amendment was ratified which allowed the manufacture, sale, transport, import, or export of alcoholic beverages. 

How do you analyze a political cartoon?

With most political cartoons I think the first and easiest way to analyze a political cartoon is to know your history. Use what you know. If you are not aware of what the cartoon is about, use your imagination.

Cartoon Analysis Guide 

The difference between my answer and the cartoon analysis guide was of course that it was a better explanation. It says to check for symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, irony, etc.

Political Cartoon- This image encourages United States interference in Cuba because of the terrible Spanish ruling. I came to this conclusion because of the website I found this from and also the imagery and symbolism of a Spanish ruler in a frying pan.

Political Cartoon- This image is comparing the Philippines return to Spain to throwing a child off a cliff. I came to this conclusion because of the website I found this from and also this is President Mckinley holding a native child, which symbolizes him throwing a native child off a cliff.

Political Cartoon- President Mckinley was working against the Filipino people and looked down on them, as he was trying to prevent the history of crime. I came to this conclusion because of the website I found this from and because President Mckinley is so much bigger and looking down on the Filipino ruler.