Virginia would have the greatest interest in having slaves counted as part of the population for purposes of representation. During the period leading up to the Civil War, Southern states, including Virginia, sought to maximize their representation in Congress and the Electoral College. Since the census counted slaves as a portion of the population (three-fifths compromise), having a larger slave population would boost representation for those states. In contrast, states like New York had less interest in this arrangement as they did not rely on slave populations for their economy and consequently would not benefit from the same representation mechanism.
Which state would have the greatest interest in having slaves counted as part of the population for purposes of reputation?
Georgia
Maryland
Virginia
New York
1 answer