What was the purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

The Three-Fifths Compromise was primarily established to determine how enslaved people would be counted when calculating a state’s population for both representation in Congress and taxation purposes. This agreement was crucial during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, as it aimed to strike a balance between Northern and Southern states.

Southern states wanted to count enslaved individuals to increase their representation in the House of Representatives, while Northern states opposed this because enslaved people were not considered citizens and thus should not be counted. The compromise stated that for every five enslaved individuals, three would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation.

This arrangement reflected the political landscape of the time and was designed to ensure that both sides felt their interests had been considered, allowing for the ratification of the Constitution. The Three-Fifths Compromise illustrates the complexities of accommodating different regional interests and the moral and ethical dilemmas associated with slavery in the United States' history.