Three-fifths Compromise facts for kids
The Three-fifths Compromise was an important agreement made during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in the United States. This meeting was where leaders gathered to write the U.S. Constitution.
One big problem they faced was how to count enslaved people when figuring out a state's total population. This number was very important because it decided two things:
- How many representatives a state would have in the House of Representatives.
- How much a state would pay in taxes to the government.
Southern states had many enslaved people and wanted them counted fully to get more power in Congress. Northern states, however, thought it was unfair to count people who were treated as property and couldn't vote.
The compromise decided that only three-fifths (or 60%) of the enslaved population in each state would be counted. This meant that for every five enslaved people, three would be added to the state's total population count.
This agreement gave the Southern states more seats in Congress and more votes in presidential elections than if enslaved people hadn't been counted at all. However, it was fewer seats than if enslaved and free people had been counted equally.
The idea for this compromise was suggested by James Wilson and supported by Charles Pinckney, who were both delegates at the convention.
Where to Find It in the Constitution
The Three-fifths Compromise was written into the original U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3.
Why It Changed
Years later, after the American Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1868. Section 2 of this amendment officially ended the Three-fifths Compromise. This happened because slavery was abolished in the United States, making the compromise no longer needed.
See also
In Spanish: Compromiso de los Tres Quintos para niños
