Final answer:
The Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in a 7-2 decision in the year 1973 with the decision of Roe v. Wade. This landmark ruling established a woman's right to an abortion during the first trimester and has been a cornerstone of reproductive rights debates ever since.
Step-by-step explanation:
In what year did the Supreme Court legalize abortion nationwide in a 7-2 decision? The answer is C) 1973. The Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973, established a woman's legal right to an abortion. This ruling invalidated a state law in Texas, thereby legalizing abortion under specific circumstances throughout the United States. Prior to this, abortions could be considered illegal during the first three months of pregnancy, according to state laws.
The decision was a significant victory for the feminist movement and it ensured that during the first trimester, a woman could seek an abortion without state restriction. The ruling, however, also indicated that states could regulate abortions in the second and third trimesters based on the fetus's viability. The Roe v. Wade decision remains highly controversial and has been the center of the social and legal debate between "pro-choice" and "pro-life" advocates since it was handed down.