QQuestionHistory
QuestionHistory
"Which of these best describes the Three-Fifths Compromise?
A. Three-fifths of the population were eligible to vote under the initial voting laws.
B. For the purposes of representation, each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person.
C. All votes had to be passed in Congress by a three-fifths majority to become national law.
D. Three-fifths of the states had to ratify any changes to the new Constitution."
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Answer
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Step 1:Let me solve this step-by-step:
Step 2:: Understand the Historical Context
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a specific provision in the United States Constitution negotiated during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. This compromise addressed how enslaved people would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation.
Step 3:: Analyze the Meaning of the Compromise
The compromise stated that for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives and for direct taxation, enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person. This was not about voting rights or total population, but about political representation.
Step 4:: Evaluate Each Option
A. Incorrect - This option is not related to the actual compromise. B. Correct - This precisely describes the Three-Fifths Compromise. C. Incorrect - This describes a different congressional procedure. D. Incorrect - This is not related to the Three-Fifths Compromise.
Step 5:: Explain the Significance
The compromise was a political mechanism that gave Southern states more representation in Congress by partially counting enslaved people, while not granting them any actual rights or freedoms.
Final Answer
For the purposes of representation, each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person.
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