The Three-Fifths Compromise was a controversial provision of the United States Constitution that determined how enslaved individuals would be counted when determining a state's population for representation and taxation purposes. The North and the South held divergent views on this matter, which are summarized below.
North's Argument:
The North opposed counting enslaved individuals towards representation because they believed it would give the South an unfair advantage. They argued that slaves were treated as property, without rights or freedoms, and therefore should not be included in the population count. Moreover, the North criticized the South for wanting to include enslaved individuals only for representation purposes while ignoring their treatment and humanity.
South's Argument:
The South, on the other hand, favored counting enslaved individuals as part of the population for representation and taxation purposes. They argued that slaves were property as well as laborers, thus contributing to the state's wealth and economic prosperity. By including enslaved individuals in the population count, the South sought to secure greater representation in the House of Representatives, giving them more political power to protect their interests, including maintaining the institution of slavery.
Effects on the Political Power of the South:
The Three-Fifths Compromise had a significant impact on the political power of the South. By counting enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person, the South gained more representation in the House of Representatives than if only the free population was considered. This allowed the South to wield more influence in national politics, particularly in issues related to slavery and the preservation of their agrarian-based economy.
The compromise also affected the Electoral College system. The number of Electoral College votes each state receives for the presidential election is based on the total number of representatives in Congress. Since the South gained more representatives due to the inclusion of enslaved individuals, they also received more Electoral College votes, further enhancing their political power.
In summary, the South supported counting enslaved individuals towards representation and taxation to increase their political power and protect their interests, while the North opposed this in an effort to prevent the South from monopolizing political decision-making. The Three-Fifths Compromise ultimately granted the South greater representation and electoral advantage, contributing to the perpetuation and entrenchment of slavery in the United States.
explain the arguments on both sides of the Three-Fifths Compromise (North and South) and its effects on the political power of the South.
research and summarize the arguments advanced by the South as to how enslaved people should be counted towards representation and taxation.
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