d Identifying enslaved people as property ensures that Southern slave states remain part of the Union.
One advantage of this policy is that it helped maintain unity within the Union by appeasing the Southern slave states and their interests. This provision gave them representation in Congress and played a role in balancing power between the free and slave states. By acknowledging enslaved people as property and including them in the apportionment of representation and taxation, it helped prevent Southern states from seceding from the Union due to concerns about losing their rights to own slaves.
Critique the following constitutional provision protecting the property of slave owners. What would be an advantage of this policy?
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”
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Responses
a The national government assesses taxation on an equal basis, regardless of state population size.
b Taxes are divided on an equal basis regardless of race, ensuring taxation is fair.
c States retain the power to decide what taxes will be paid to the federal government, thus increasing state autonomy.
d Identifying enslaved people as property ensures that Southern slave states remain part of the Union.
1 answer
1 answer