In 1747 Ben Franklin wrote his Miss Polly Baker Speech. The speech itself reflected many issues Franklin had with the current laws in the budding colonies. The most obvious issue was the treatment of women in the Puritanical laws in particular those women with illegitimate children. The essay is well ahead of its time. The letter could have been reborn in America circa 1973 during Roe v. Wade. Read/Re-read the speech on pg 463-465 of the Norton text and then answer the following essay in no loess than 300 words.
Part 1- Given what you have read about Franklin in the text what do you think prompted him to write this letter? Why was the author anonymous for many years?
Part 2- Citing specific textual evidence, find 3 examples of laws or injustices Franklin had with the current system of laws in 1747. Paste the quote from the text and then discuss to which law or injustice you believe he was referring.
Part 3- How could this speech be relevant in a more modern day setting? Be specific.