communicating clearly in one paragraph, explain how the

Great Compromise and the Electoral College, when combined with the Three-Fifths
Compromise, affected the political power of southern states.

1 answer

The Great Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate, combined with the Electoral College system, significantly enhanced the political power of southern states, particularly in the context of the Three-Fifths Compromise. This latter compromise allowed states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for purposes of taxation and representation, which disproportionately benefited southern states by amplifying their representation in the House of Representatives and their electoral votes. As a result, southern states gained greater influence in the federal government, allowing them to protect their interests, particularly regarding slavery, and maintain a political balance that often favored their economic and social structures. Together, these agreements solidified a political framework that empowered the South, creating systemic advantages that persisted throughout the antebellum period.