The Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and it addressed the issue of representation in the new Congress. It proposed a bicameral legislature, with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.
The Three-Fifths Compromise, also reached during the Constitutional Convention, determined that for the purposes of representation and taxation, enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person.
When combined, these two compromises had a significant impact on the South's political power. The Three-Fifths Compromise enabled the South to gain additional representation in the House of Representatives based on their enslaved population. This meant that the South would have more seats in the House and thus more influence in the legislative process.
Furthermore, the Electoral College, which determines the outcome of presidential elections, was also affected by these compromises. The number of electors each state receives is determined by the size of its congressional delegation. By including enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of population count, the South was able to gain more electors. This gave them increased political power in the selection of the President.
Overall, the Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise together strengthened the South's political power by increasing their representation in Congress and the Electoral College, allowing them to have a greater influence in the new government.
How did the
compromise
impact the
South’s political
power when
combined with the
Three-Fifths
Compromise?
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
1 answer