In 1749, one of the most famous London newspapers posted a speech of the woman who became accused by the court of bearing a child outside of wedlock. In the eighteenth century, the court could punish those women who were pregnant before marriage. According to Hall (2018), Polly Baker stated that instead of punishment, the court should take part in the creation of a statue in her honor. The character believed that she did not commit a crime and positively influenced society to fight against such unfair rules. Miss Polly Baker stated that she had done the duty of God as the birth of a child is a God’s nature which the want of society cannot destroy. The court found Baker guilty five times for the same actions, but she denied it since the birth of these children was planned, and their living conditions were at a good level.
Polly Baker said that she is not the only person who should take all responsibility, but also bachelors must receive the court’s punishment (Hall, 2018). Benjamin Franklin was one of the creators of The Speech of Miss Polly Baker, and most of the ideas displayed his personal beliefs. Franklin was a part of the USA’s political system and could analyze all advantages and disadvantages of the law. I believe that he would analyze the positive and negative sides of the situation and give clear ideas to make the story more receptive. Benjamin Franklin became one of the first politicians who helped establish connections with other countries and achieve the independence of the United States. The modern state of mind changed the attitude toward women, and they received more rights. The modern world is different from the eighteenth century, and women feel free in their actions and participation in the political sphere. The attitude towards women began to change because of the influential speech of Benjamin Franklin, and this was one of the largest changes in the American history.
Reference
Hall, M. (2018). Benjamin Franklin and Polly Baker. The University of North Carolina Press.