With no PoDs prior to the end of the Civil War, how can the U.S., by 1915, have as few legal constraints on obscenity and reproductive freedom as possible, compared to OTL?

CONSOLIDATE: One possible idea -- supposing, in the 1870's, the suffragette movement was somewhat more successful in the western territories and states?
 
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One possible idea -- supposing, in the 1870's, the suffragette movement was somewhat more successful in the western territories and states?

That would make things MORE Comstock. The suffragette/1st wave feminist movement was highly religious. You would have an earlier Prohibition and lots of laws against obscenity and extramarital affairs.

A more lax/liberal America on sexual matters would be one that has more immigrant/Southern influence, as opposed to Northern. A less successful Republican party would decrease the influence of the "Cult of Domesticity" and the Victorian mindset. (Though, you'd probably have more laws against miscegenation in Southern states.) This is going to be difficult postbellum for obvious reasons.
 
@Uberak One thing that has to be remembered about American obscenity laws was that they didn't just go after "sporting" culture magazines with titilating articles anr illustrations, but also, with equal vigor, went after literature that frankly discussed methods and issues of birth control.

Another thing to remember is that, in a late 19th and early 20th century context, it would be a mistake to tie "religiousness" with opposition to contraception and abortion, as they are in present day; natalist culture and policies were in no small measure being promoted on eugenic grounds.
 
So, let's say Anthony sticks with alcohol as his issue, and he even develops rather sophisticated views by anticipating many of the modern views of alcoholism as an addiction, and even going past these by understanding that preaching a negative is almost always counterproductive. And in fact, sometimes a person can be way ahead of current understanding.

Let's further suppose he's not a great fan of prohibition but he that he has worked with its advocates as co-reformers on a number of other alcohol-related issues. And he takes the position, look, if we're going to have prohibition, this might be how to do it right. Might make for a different history.
 
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Well, for starters without Comstock there would be no Nevada, since the Silver State was created from the fabulous silver wealth of the Comstock Lode. Not to mention a generally poorer-

Oh, wait. Wrong Comstock. Never mind. :p
 
Yeah, as a coin collector I was going "guess there wouldn't have ever been a Carson City Mint!" Lol

A Socialist revolution, depending on the flavor of socialism, could lead to greater personal freedoms
 
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