This work investigates the legal and social mechanisms that transformed abortion from a widely practiced, unregulated procedure into a criminalized act in the United States during the nineteenth century. James C. Mohr, a historian specializing in American legal and social history, utilizes an extensive array of primary sources, including medical journals, legislative records, and newspaper archives. He argues that the criminalization of abortion was driven less by moral consensus and more by the professionalization of medicine, as physicians sought to consolidate their authority and eliminate competition from midwives and irregular practitioners.

Historians and legal scholars frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the origins of reproductive policy in America. Experts highlight the meticulous archival research and the clarity with which Mohr connects medical professionalization to broader legislative shifts.