The Legal Enforcement of Morality: A Three Case Study

Abstract

The purpose of this Senior Honors Thesis is to research the relationship between morality and the law. The breadth of this study makes it an impossible task to research in one paper, therefore, this paper will be an-overview of America's history of the legal enforcement of morality. Three case studies: the colonial Blue Laws, the nineteenth and turn of the century Prohibition movement, and the contemporary abortion issue, are representative of the evolution of a legal-ethical philosophy in American law. The research focuses upon determining the historical background of the dilemma, the influence of pressure groups, and the implications of changing attitudes within our society.