User:Summerrmehta/Anthony Comstock

Anthony Comstock born March 7th, 1844 in New Canaan, CT and died September 21st, 1915 in Summit, NJ, who was the head of the New York society for the suppression of vice was the creator of the Comstock Law which entailed that any usage of contraception, abortion, prostitution, obscene literature, quack medication, and gambling was to be considered as unlawful and will be banned. Any individual who decided to go against the law could get up to five years of jail time and hard labor. They could also pay up to $2000 per court visit. Comstock believed that contraceptives and abortions interfered with God's intentions.

Comstock founded the YMCA (Young Men Christian Association) along with his different supporters. John Somner succeeded Anthony Comstock as the head of the NYSSU.

The Comstock Law was popular and state levels were also enacted. Other states were better with this law. except Connecticut and Massachusetts who had a couple of issues with this law.

In Frauds Exposed (1872), Comstock expressed concern over the overall health of their generation.

Advocates of contraceptives and abortion had always evoked Comstock's wrath.

Republican control of the congress has brought more than 50 votes on abortion.

Comstock's crusade against free speech and reproductive choice represents one of the worst chapters since. The last thing America needs or wants is a bridge to the past represented by Comstockery. Suppression of free speech, suppression of reproductive choice is an aberration from genuine American values.

In 1938, a case that involved a woman named Margaret Sanger, Judge August Hand decided to lift the federal law that banned usage of birth control that effectively ended the Comstock Law to target contraceptive information and different devices. At this time, Comstock had already passed away due to reasons that are unknown.

Since the law was banned, many women had more freedom to do what they wanted. Society had other things to say. Women who were seen to have sexual intercourse for pleasure were not considered to be proper. Men who desired to have sexual intercourse would go see a prostitute. Women were only allowed if they wanted a child and they were not allowed to enjoy it.

However if women did want to have sex but not get pregnant, they would have to use birth control. They could douche which consisted of water, soap and a kind of spermicide. They could also use the rhythm method when counting their days before, during, and after menstruation. Other forms of birth control consisted of condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and IUD's.

Ever since this law was banned, women started having sex with their husbands more frequently using any form of birth control that they wanted to without feeling judged by their husband or by society.

One of Comstock's famous quotes is "The world is the devil's hunting-ground and children are his choicest game."

Works Cited:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anthony-Comstock

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/anthony-comstock

https://www.nndb.com/people/230/000117876/

https://case.edu/affil/skuyhistcontraception/online-2012/Comstock.html