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At the [[Constitutional Convention]], there was some debate over whether slaves should be counted as part of the population determining the number of seats in the [[House of Representative]] granted to each state. The '''Three-Fifths Compromise''' was the solution to this problem. It determined that five [[slave]]s would count as three people in determining the [[population]] for [[tax]]ing and [[representation]]. <ref>U.S Government and Politics</ref>
At the [[Constitutional Convention]], there was some debate over whether slaves should be counted as part of the population determining the number of seats in the [[House of Representative]] granted to each state. The '''Three-Fifths Compromise''' was the solution to this problem. It determined that five [[slave]]s would count as three people in determining the [[population]] for [[tax]]ing and [[representation]]. <ref>U.S Government and Politics</ref>
It was proposed in 1787 by [[James Wilson]] at the [[Constitutional Convention]]. The Compromise was introduced as a solution between the Southern and Northern States.
It was proposed in 1787 by [[James Wilson]] at the [[Constitutional Convention]]. The Compromise was introduced as a solution between the Southern and Northern States as a way to keep the union from splintering.
==Background==
Historians, politicians, and activists have argued endlessly about the Three-Fifths Compromise, what it means, and its impact.
[[Frederick Douglass]] argued that the Constitution is a ''Glorious Liberty Document'', which includes this compromise.<ref>[http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-of-july/ What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?], July 5, 1852, "Fellow-citizens! there is no matter in respect to which, the people of the North have allowed themselves to be so ruinously imposed upon, as that of the pro-slavery character of the Constitution. In that instrument I hold there is neither warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing; but, interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? It is neither. While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it."</ref> Abraham Lincoln, likewise, made a defense of the [[Abraham_Lincoln#Founding_Fathers|Founding Fathers]] on the grounds that the Founders had little choice but compromise, otherwise one or more states could have been lost to the British so shortly after victory in the [[Revolutionary War]].
Conversely, [[William Lloyd Garrison]] argued that the Constitution was a "covenant with death" in regard to slavery.<ref>[http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/garrisons-constitution-1.html Garrison's Constitution], The Covenant with Death and How It Was Made</ref> Other historians, such as Garry Wills, have argued that the Three-Fifths Compromise increased the power of the slave states.<ref>[http://www.hoover.org/research/slave-system-thomas-jefferson-and-slavery A SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM? Thomas Jefferson and Slavery], [[Hoover Institute]]</ref>
==Impact before the Civil War==
There are three potential outcomes that lead into the compromise, all of which have different outcomes and impact.
1: Total emancipation of the slaves, several southern states leave the union.
2: Total recognition of slavery, several northern states would likely have left the union.
As Abraham Lincoln noted, dis-union was not an option for the Founders. Had any one of the states left the union, it would have been courted by a foreign power leading to another war. Even as a united nation of 13 colonies, the US faced war with Britian a second time in the [[War of 1812]].<ref>By the time of the War of 1812, 5 additional states had been added, with the result that Britain was still an extremely formidable adversary. Those states were: [[Vermont]], [[Kentucky]], [[Tennessee]], [[Ohio]], and [[Louisiana]].</ref>
3: Partial recognition of slaves for the purpose of representation. [[Rufus King]], a Delegate from Massachusetts to the [[Constitutional Convention]], noted that counting slaves on an equality with free citizens would "excite great discontents among the states having no slaves".<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_711.asp Madison Debates], July 11 1787</ref> James Wilson agreed, stating that it would "give disgust to the people of Pennsylvania".<ref>July 11th</ref> [[Gouverneur Morris]] stated that given the choice of doing injustice to the southern states or to human nature, he would "do it to the former". Under no circumstances would he ever "agree to give such encouragement to the slave trade as would be given by allowing them a representation for their negroes".<ref>July 11th</ref>
Ultimately, the Three-Fifths Compromise was approved on July 12th, 1787, by a vote of 6 to 2. Previously, on July 11th, the Three-Fifths Compromise failed to be approved by a vote of 4 to 6. What changed?
On July 12th, [[Governor Charles Pinckney]] proposed a motion for "rating blacks as equal to Whites instead of as 3/5".<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_712.asp Madison Debates],
July 12, 1787</ref> Fully counting slaves would have given the slave states immense power, and the Founders knew it. The final vote was 2 to 8 against. The only two states voting yes were Georgia and South Carolina. After Pinkney's motion for full representation, the states agreed to partial representation.<ref>July 12th</ref>
===Southern States supported full representation===
A small number of delegates to the Convention favored full representation for blacks, many of whom were southern delegates. [[Pierce Butler (Founding Father)]], a delegate from South Carolina, was ardently in favor of full representation. "I contend that representation should be according to the full number of inhabitants, including all the blacks".<ref>July 12th</ref>
===Representation===
The impact before the Civil War of representation has three potential outcomes: that being only count free citizens; fully count everybody, including slaves; or count by the 3/5ths rule. As historian Garry Wills has noted, in 1793 the total representation of the states was 105 members.<ref>Garry Wills, ''Negro President: Jefferson and the Slave Power'', pp. 5-6</ref> The following table illustrates the three possible paths that could have been taken:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Potential Outcome (1793) !! Result !! Path Chosen
|-
| Not counting slaves || Southern voting power: 33 ||
|-
| Three-Fifths Compromise || Southern voting power: 47 || Chosen
|-
| Full counting of slaves || Southern voting power: 56 ||
|-
|}
Wills also noted that in 1812 the total representation was 143, and in 1833, 240 members.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Potential Outcome (1812) !! Result !! Path Chosen
|-
| Not counting slaves || Southern voting power: 59 ||
|-
| Three-Fifths Compromise || Southern voting power: 76 || Chosen
|-
| Full counting of slaves || Southern voting power: 87 ||
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Potential Outcome (1833) !! Result !! Path Chosen
|-
| Not counting slaves || Southern voting power: 73 ||
|-
| Three-Fifths Compromise || Southern voting power: 98 || Chosen
|-
| Full counting of slaves || Southern voting power: 115 ||
|-
|}
==Repeal==
The Three-Fifths Compromise was abolished by the [[Thirteenth Amendment]], as was slavery. The [[Fourteenth Amendment]] clarified this, with Article I, Section 2 of the amendment stating that "Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed."<ref>[http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html#14 AMENDMENT XIV]</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:United States Constitution]]
[[Category:United States Constitution]]
[[Category:United States Government]]
[[Category:United States Government]]