When, Why, How and by Whom was the Three-Fifths Compromise Reversed and Removed from the Constitution?
The Three-Fifths Compromise was never reversed or removed from the Constitution. It was superseded by the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted full citizenship rights to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and repealed the three-fifths clause. The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868, during the Reconstruction Era, following the Civil War, and it sought to reverse and remove the legacy of slavery and the devaluation of enslaved persons by the Three-Fifths Compromise.
The Three-Fifths Compromise, which was part of the United States Constitution, was an agreement made in 1787 that stated that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state's population for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives and for calculating taxes. This compromise was a deeply flawed and morally reprehensible provision that perpetuated the institution of slavery.
To answer your question, it's important to note that the Three-Fifths Compromise was not explicitly repealed or reversed. However, its significance and practical effects were effectively nullified by subsequent constitutional amendments and events in American history.
One of the key milestones in eliminating the Three-Fifths Compromise was the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1868. This amendment, passed after the Civil War, granted citizenship and equal rights to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, regardless of race. It effectively overturned the Three-Fifths Compromise by declaring that all formerly enslaved individuals would be counted fully for the purpose of apportioning representation.
Additionally, the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870 further strengthened the removal of the Three-Fifths Compromise. This amendment prohibited denying someone the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was another step towards dismantling the institutionalized discrimination that the Three-Fifths Compromise represented.
The gradual abolition of slavery throughout the United States via the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 also played a significant role in nullifying the Three-Fifths Compromise. These measures abolished slavery and recognized the full personhood and rights of formerly enslaved individuals.
In essence, the Three-Fifths Compromise was reversed and removed from the Constitution through the combination of constitutional amendments and the broader historical context of the abolitionist movement, the Civil War, and the eventual end of slavery in the United States.
The Three-Fifths Compromise, which was part of the United States Constitution, was officially repealed and removed through the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
1. When: The Three-Fifths Compromise was originally included in the United States Constitution in 1787 during the drafting of the document. It remained in effect until its reversal.
2. Why: The Three-Fifths Compromise was initially established as a way to determine the population of enslaved individuals for the purpose of congressional representation and taxation. Enslaved individuals were considered three-fifths of a person for these purposes, which benefited Southern states that had a large enslaved population. However, this compromise was deeply unjust and contradicted the principles of equality and human rights.
3. How: The reversal of the Three-Fifths Compromise happened through the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
a. Proposal: The Fourteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on June 13, 1866, as part of the Reconstruction Amendments. It aimed to provide equal rights and protection to all citizens regardless of race or color.
b. Ratification: The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868, after being approved by the required number of states. This process involved the state legislatures of three-fourths of the states approving the amendment.
4. By Whom: The reversal and removal of the Three-Fifths Compromise from the Constitution was accomplished through the efforts of abolitionists, civil rights activists, and supporters of equal rights. The Fourteenth Amendment was championed by significant figures such as Thaddeus Stevens, John Bingham, and Frederick Douglass.
It's important to note that the Fourteenth Amendment not only ended the Three-Fifths Compromise but also granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to former slaves. This amendment played a crucial role in advancing civil rights in the United States.