What effect did the Three-Fifths Compromise have on Southern states?

Question

a. it helped increase the number of enslaved people

b. it gave the south the power to outvote the north

c. it limited the number os states that allowed slavery

d. by allowing enslaved people to be counted as 3/5 of a person in southern staes, it gave southern states more representation in congress

Answer 1

The correct effect of the Three-Fifths Compromise on Southern states is:

d. by allowing enslaved people to be counted as 3/5 of a person in southern states, it gave southern states more representation in congress.

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that determined how enslaved individuals would be counted for representation and taxation purposes. It allowed Southern states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population when apportioning representatives in Congress, which increased their political power relative to Northern states.

Answer 2

how is it not b ?

Answer 3

While option b. it gave the south the power to outvote the north might seem plausible, it isn't entirely accurate for a couple of reasons:

1. Political Power vs. Representation: The Three-Fifths Compromise did boost Southern representation in the House of Representatives by counting enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for apportionment. However, representation does not directly equate to the power to "outvote" the North in every context.

2. Population Dynamics: While the larger number of representatives allowed Southern states potentially more influence in Congress, that influence still had to contend with the overall political landscape, including the number of states and their populations in the North and South. Furthermore, the North had a generally higher free population, and with the shift in population growth dynamics throughout the 19th century, Northern states eventually had significant influence.

Thus, although Southern states gained representation, it isn't solely an issue of "outvoting" the North. While the Three-Fifths Compromise did strengthen Southern political power, the consequence of increased representation is more accurately encapsulated in option d.