Understanding the Three-Fifths Compromise: Impact on Political Representation and the Controversy Surrounding Slavery in the United States.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

5 slaves would count as 3 free people for the purpose of representation in congress

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a decision made during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in the United States. It was an agreement between delegates from northern and southern states that determined how slaves would be counted for representation in Congress.

Southern states wanted slaves to be counted as part of their population so they could have more representatives in Congress. Northern states opposed this idea because they believed that slaves should not be considered part of the population because they did not have the right to vote.

The compromise stated that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining a state’s population for representation in Congress. This meant that every five slaves would be counted as three people in terms of political representation. This compromise impacted the balance of power between the northern and southern states and helped to facilitate the ratification of the US Constitution.

The Three-Fifths Compromise was also controversial because it recognized and perpetuated the institution of slavery, treating enslaved people as property rather than as human beings with equal rights. However, the compromise was an important step towards creating a stronger national government and ultimately helped to establish the United States as a constitutional democracy.

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