Three-Fifths Compromise

Definition

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a provision reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that determined how enslaved individuals would be counted when apportioning representation and taxation. It stipulated that each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person, which affected the political power of slaveholding states in Congress and highlighted the contentious issue of slavery in the formation of the new government.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The compromise was a response to disagreements between northern and southern states regarding representation, where southern states wanted to count enslaved individuals fully for representation but not for taxation.
2. This provision ultimately provided southern states with greater representation in Congress than if enslaved people had not been counted at all.
3. The Three-Fifths Compromise was a significant factor in the debates about slavery and representation that would continue to shape American politics for decades.
4. It was eventually rendered obsolete by the 14th Amendment in 1868, which granted full citizenship rights and equal protection under the law to all individuals born in the United States.
5. The compromise demonstrated the conflicting interests between slaveholding and non-slaveholding states and set a precedent for future compromises regarding slavery in American politics.

Review Questions

• How did the Three-Fifths Compromise reflect the tensions between northern and southern states during the Constitutional Convention?
  • The Three-Fifths Compromise highlighted the significant tensions between northern and southern states regarding representation and slavery. Northern states, generally opposed to slavery, argued that enslaved individuals should not be counted for representation since they were not considered citizens. In contrast, southern states wanted to count enslaved individuals fully to increase their political power. The compromise allowed for a middle ground where each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a person, thereby illustrating the deep divisions in American society at that time.
• What were the long-term implications of the Three-Fifths Compromise on American political representation?
  • The Three-Fifths Compromise had significant long-term implications for American political representation by granting southern states increased power in Congress relative to their free populations. This skewed representation contributed to the dominance of slaveholding interests in national politics, influencing major legislative decisions and fostering sectional conflict. The effects persisted until the Civil War and beyond, as issues related to slavery continued to polarize American society and politics.
• Evaluate how the Three-Fifths Compromise influenced debates about civil rights and equality in subsequent years after its establishment.
  • The Three-Fifths Compromise set a troubling precedent for how enslaved individuals were perceived in terms of citizenship and humanity, ultimately influencing ongoing debates about civil rights and equality. By counting enslaved people as only three-fifths of a person, it entrenched a view of African Americans as lesser beings, undermining their fight for rights even after slavery was abolished. This historical compromise became a focal point for future civil rights movements, highlighting systemic inequalities that persisted long after its repeal through amendments like the 14th Amendment. The legacy of this compromise continues to resonate today as discussions around racial equity and representation remain relevant.

Related terms

Constitutional Convention:

A gathering held in 1787 where delegates from the thirteen states convened to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and ultimately created the U.S. Constitution.

Slave Trade: The transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans to the Americas, which was a significant economic and moral issue during the formation of the U.S. government.

Apportionment: The process of distributing representation in a legislative body, often based on population counts, which was significantly influenced by how enslaved individuals were counted due to the Three-Fifths Compromise.