The state that would have had the greatest interest in having slaves counted as part of the population for the purposes of representation would be A Virginia. During the period leading up to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, southern states like Virginia, which had large populations of enslaved individuals, sought to maximize their representation in Congress. They argued that slaves should be counted in the population totals, even though enslaved people could not vote. This viewpoint contributed to the Three-Fifths Compromise, where slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.
Which state would have the greatest interest in having slaves counted as part of the population for the purposes of representation?
A Virginia
B New York
C Georgia
D Maryland
1 answer