Final answer:
The Comstock Act of 1873 aimed to prevent the circulation of obscene materials through the mail and specifically prohibited articles about contraception and abortion (3).
Step-by-step explanation:
The Comstock Act of 1873 prohibited the spread of "lewd and lascivious literature" through the mail, which included articles about contraception and abortion.
Named after its chief proponent, Anthony Comstock, an anti-obscenity crusader, the act was part of a wider set of reforms aimed at maintaining public morals and preventing sexual exploitation during a time when the United States was going through significant changes as it expanded westward. Despite the efforts of reformers, certain activities like prostitution continued in various parts of the country, although women and social reformers campaigned against such vices believed to threaten family values.