Block, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
9,147
edits
Changes
The Fallacy of "Three Fifths of a Person"
==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Following the repeal of slavery and the Three-Fifths Compromise, there is a pervading myth that has become perpetuated that instead of being counted for the purpose of representation, that the Three-Fifths Compromise was all about deciding the value of a human's life. What this myth ignores is what historian Joseph R. Conlin points out, that the Three-Fifths Compromise counted free blacks as one full citizen. In other words, a slave was counted as 3/5 of a free black too.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ysi1GcK3OmMC&pg=PA175 The American Past: A Survey of American History, Volume I: To 1877]</ref>
Following the repeal of slavery and the Three-Fifths Compromise, there is a pervading myth that has become perpetuated that instead of being counted for the purpose of representation, that the Three-Fifths Compromise was all about deciding the value of a human's life. What this myth ignores is what historian Joseph R. Conlin points out, that the Three-Fifths Compromise counted free blacks as one full citizen. In other words, a slave was counted as 3/5 of a free black too.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ysi1GcK3OmMC&pg=PA175 The American Past: A Survey of American History, Volume I: To 1877]</ref>
===The Fallacy of "Three Fifths of a Person"===
The fallacy that the Three-Fifths Compromise has long persisted,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/books/slaves-in-the-family.html?pagewanted=all Slaves in the Family], [[The New York Times]]</ref><ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/2003/nov/14/entertainment/et-book14 Jefferson and the 'three-fifths clause'], [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5gn80Xa7WXkC&pg=PT95 Why the Left Hates America: Exposing the Lies That Have Obscured Our Nation's Greatness]</ref> despite having no factual basis.<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2004-02-24/news/0402230162_1_three-fifths-clause-slaves-free-persons Three-fifths Fallacy Perpetuated]</ref><ref>July 11th</ref><ref>July 12th</ref><ref>[http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=122 The Founding Fathers and Slavery], [[David Barton]]</ref><ref>[http://www.blackpast.org/aah/three-fifths-clause-united-states-constitution-1787 The Three-Fifths Clause of the United States Constitution (1787)], BlackPast.org</ref><ref>[http://www.ajc.com/news/news/opinion/neal-boortz-the-whole-truth-about-three-fifths/nQpXT/ Neal Boortz: The whole truth about 'three-fifths']</ref>
Despite the facts, recognizing the historical facts have even gotten people in trouble. E.W. Jackson, a Christian Minister and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2012 noted that "the 3/5ths clause was an anti-slavery amendment. Its purpose was to limit the voting power of slave holding states."<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/jen-kuznicki/ew-jacksons-correct-about-three-fifths-clause E.W. Jackson's Correct about the Three-Fifths Clause]</ref>
[[Walter E. Williams]], a professor at George Mason University, argues that the Founders were 100% correct in limiting representation of the slave power.<ref>[http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/guest-commentary/walter-williams-three-fifths-clause-was-percent-necessary/article_2bf39d65-3a43-556a-a22c-0cde5e59b10d.html?mobile_touch=true WALTER WILLIAMS: Three-fifths clause was 100 percent necessary]</ref> He points to the fact that the South wanted to fully count slaves in their numbers for representation. Had slaves been fully counted, the slave states would have had more representation than the free states did. In 1793, the total count of representatives was 105. With a full representation for slavery, the slave states would have had 56, leaving the free states with 49.
==References==
==References==