Comstock Laws

The Comstock Laws were a set of U.S. federal regulations enacted in 1873 that prohibited the distribution of obscene materials, including contraceptives and information about birth control, through the mail or across state lines. Named after Congressman Anthony Comstock, these laws aimed to curb vice and morality concerns but also restricted access to contraception and reproductive health information. They reflected the societal attitudes of the time, emphasizing moral standards over individual rights, and significantly impacted personal privacy and reproductive choices until later legal reforms relaxed these restrictions.