Comstock Law

The Comstock Law was a 19th century United States law that made it illegal to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" books through the mail. It was passed on March 3, 1873 and is a clear example of censorship. It was named after its chief proponent, the anti-obscenity crusader Anthony Comstock. The enthusiastic enforcement of the Act, often by Comstock himself, made American censorship notorious in Europe. George Bernard Shaw, who had his own works censored in the United States, coined the word "comstockery" to describe censorship without regard for culture or merit.

Related Topics:
19th century - United States - March 3 - 1873 - Censorship - Anthony Comstock - George Bernard Shaw

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The Comstock Law not only targeted pornography as such, but also all contraceptive equipment and many educational documents such as descriptions of contraceptive methods and other reproductive health related materials.

Related Topics:
Pornography - Contraceptive

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The Comstock Law prohibition of birth control was not overturned until U.S. v. One Package of Japanese Pessaries in 1936.

Related Topics:
Birth control - U.S. v. One Package of Japanese Pessaries - 1936

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