Three-Fifths Compromise
Definition
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the drafting of the U.S. Constitution that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation.
Analogy
Imagine you're splitting a pizza with friends, but some people only get to count as 3/5 of a person when deciding how many slices everyone gets. It's not fair, right? That's essentially what happened with this compromise.
Related terms
Slavery: A system where individuals known as slaves are treated as property and forced to work without consent.
Constitutional Convention: The meeting held in 1787 where delegates from twelve states wrote the U.S. Constitution.
Representation: In politics, it refers to citizens electing officials to make decisions on their behalf in government.
"Three-Fifths Compromise" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Practice Questions (3)
- What was the purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
- What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
- What was a significant consequence of including the Three-Fifths Compromise in the U.S. Constitution?
Resources
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