What portion of Americans think abortion to be legal in all or most cases?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the data from the chart above, identify the percentage of Americans who think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
According to the data from the chart above, describe the change over time in American public opinion about abortion rights,
Before Roe v. Wade (1973), different states had different laws on the legality of abortion. The landmark Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade (1973) ruled that In the first trimester of pregnancy, the state may not regulate the abortion decision; only the pregnant woman and her attending physician can make that decision. In 2022 the Supreme Court with three new Trump appointees issued the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned Roe and returned the question of legality of abortion to the states. How did the June 24, 2022 Dobbs ruling impact American public opinion about abortion rights?
How does the abortion issue illustrate the concept of federalism?
What is your opinion on whether abortion should be legal?
According to the data from the chart below* what percent of Americans say it would be difficult to get an abortion where they live?
According to the data from the chart below* describe how Party ID (a person’s political party affiliation) and religion impacts opinion about the legality of abortion.
According to the data below* what state has the lowest approval of abortion rights?
Despite the fact that three out of four women of reproductive age in America want abortion to be legal, it is not legal in all parts of America. Why do you think that is?
If we had a purely democratic system and took a vote on abortion’s legality, based on the data from the chart above, abortion would probably be legal. But we don’t vote on certain things, and certain rights are protected no matter their popularity. What is the name of the type of democracy which protects the rights of the minority?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Take the ISideWith quiz to see which party in the 2026 midterm elections best aligns with your political opinions and values.
Get Creative
Write an amendment to the Constitution regarding the issue of abortion. Use one of these 27 Amendments as a model for the language and style of your amendment.
Learning Extension*
Get AP Exam Ready with anytime access to our growing collection of exam-prep resources, workshops, interactive reviews, games, and exclusive content.
