How did the electoral college impact the South’s political power when combined with the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Answer 1

The combination of the electoral college and the Three-Fifths Compromise had a significant impact on the South's political power. The Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining representation in Congress, gave the South a disproportionate amount of political power in the House of Representatives and the electoral college.

Because enslaved individuals were counted as part of the population for determining representation in Congress, the South had more representatives in the House of Representatives than they would have had if only free individuals were counted. This gave the South greater influence in shaping legislation and policy that affected the entire country.

Additionally, the electoral college system further increased the South's political power by giving each state a number of electors equal to the total number of its representatives and senators. This meant that the South had more electors in the electoral college than they would have had if enslaved individuals were not counted as part of the population.

As a result, the combination of the electoral college and the Three-Fifths Compromise gave the South more political power and influence in the national government than they would have had otherwise. This allowed the South to protect and advance their interests, particularly those related to slavery, for many years.