The supreme court’s decisions in griswold v. connecticut and roe v. wade were most important because they restricted state laws governing privacy. gave a new definition to personal privacy. limited privacy to the control of the body and of family life. included the right to the privacy of personal property.

Correct they gave a new definition to personal privacy.

The initial landmark case regarding establishment of a right to privacy was Griswold v. Connecticut (1965).  A law in the state of Connecticut, dating back to 1873, had prohibited the use of "any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception." The  Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut (PPLC) challenged the law.  Estelle Griswold was Executive Director of PPLC at the time.  By a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court determined that the Connecticut law was unconstitutional, in violation of the 14th Amendment.  The court was interpreting the 14th Amendment as a right to be protected against government intrusion of a person's private life.

Next came the Roe v. Wade case (1973), which applied the privacy principle to a patient's relationship with a personal physician -- that an individual has an expectation of privacy and confidentiality in conversations with a physician.  A specific "right to privacy" is not detailed witihin the United States Constitution, but the 9th Amendment states, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."  The 9th Amendment has been seen as a place where rights to privacy are protected.  The case of Roe v. Wade dealt with a woman seeking medical assistance in terminating a pregnancy.   "Jane Roe" was a pseudonym used for the court case.  Attorneys for "Jane Roe" challenged the state law that prohibited abortion except "”for the purpose of saving the life of the mother," with Dallas County District Attorney named as the defendant to represent the state of Texas.  The case ultimately went to the US Supreme Court and rights to privacy and the 9th Amendment became key issues in the decision.

Gave a new definition of personal privacy.  

Further Explanation:

In the year 1961, directors of a parenthood center who operated a clinic in New heaven city of the United States, used to provide contraceptive counseling and materials to the married couples. Estelle Griswold and C. Lee Buxton used to run that center and they were arrested on the charges of violation of state statute which made it a crime regarding using of materials that prevent conception. The trial went on in the court and they were found guilty because of this charge.  

Griswold appealed to the verdict in the Supreme Court and the highest court ruled on Griswold V. Connecticut's case that the married couple had all the right regarding privacy and that cannot be infringed upon by any state law making it a crime to use any kind of contraceptives. This case paved the way for the historic ruling on another case which came in the year 1973 named Roe v. Wade wherein it is ruling, Supreme court held that the women have the right to decide whether to terminate or not to terminate her pregnancy.  

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Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Chapter: History

Subject: Roe v. Wade

Keywords: Roe v. Wade, Griswold v. Connecticut, Right to Privacy, Contraceptives, Pregnancy, Terminate, Married Couples, Guilty, Charge, Conception, Violation.