What does the Three-Fifths Compromise establish regarding slaves?

What does the Three-Fifths Compromise establish regarding slaves?

• A. They are fully counted in the population
• B. They are not counted at all
• C. They count as three-fifths of a person
• D. They count as half a person

Answer: (C)

The Three-Fifths Compromise established that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state's population for legislative representation and taxation purposes. This arrangement emerged during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as a way to balance the interests of both slaveholding and non-slaveholding states. The compromise was significant because it was a key factor in determining how many representatives each state would have in the House of Representatives, thereby influencing political power in the newly formed government. By counting slaves as three-fifths of a person, it aimed to accommodate the South's desire for greater representation due to their large enslaved populations while addressing concerns from the North regarding the moral implications of counting individuals who were enslaved as full citizens. This compromise highlights the complexities and conflicts inherent in the early formation of the United States, particularly regarding the contentious issue of slavery.

The Three-Fifths Compromise established that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state's population for legislative representation and taxation purposes. This arrangement emerged during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as a way to balance the interests of both slaveholding and non-slaveholding states. The compromise was significant because it was a key factor in determining how many representatives each state would have in the House of Representatives, thereby influencing political power in the newly formed government. By counting slaves as three-fifths of a person, it aimed to accommodate the South's desire for greater representation due to their large enslaved populations while addressing concerns from the North regarding the moral implications of counting individuals who were enslaved as full citizens. This compromise highlights the complexities and conflicts inherent in the early formation of the United States, particularly regarding the contentious issue of slavery.