Question

In the eighteenth century, the execution of a pregnant woman sentenced to death for a crime would be delayed if the A. Woman was in an early stage of pregnancy. B. woman had minor children wholly dependent upon her. C. legal father of the unborn child requested a delay. D. woman was in the sixth month of her pregnancy. E. unborn child had begun to move.

Short answer

The execution of a pregnant woman sentenced to death for a crime would be most likely delayed in the 18th century if the unborn child had begun to move.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the Options

Review each option and consider if they could be a reason for delay in execution.

Historical Context

Consider the historical context of the 18th century. During this time period, the legal rights of the unborn child would often be recognized once the child had begun to move in the womb, often referred to as 'quickening'. This would be felt around the fourth or fifth month of the pregnancy.

Choosing the Correct Answer

Based on the historical context, the option that would most likely result in a delay of execution would be if the unborn child had begun to move or 'quickened'. This would be recognized legally as the point where the child was considered alive and hence, executing the mother would also mean killing the child. Therefore, option E is the correct choice.