Analyze the Three-fifths Compromise. Which state would be hurt the worst in terms of distribution of power if enslaved people were not counted toward population at least 60 percent?
The Three-fifths Compromise, established during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in the United States, determined how enslaved individuals would be counted towards a state's population for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives and for direct taxation. Considering the question of which state would be most negatively affected if enslaved people were not counted at least 60 percent towards the population, it is important to understand the dynamics of that time.
Under the Compromise, each slave was counted as three-fifths of a person, which boosted the population count of southern states where slavery was most prevalent. This, in turn, granted these states more seats in the House of Representatives. However, if enslaved individuals were not counted towards the population, it would have decreased the relative influence and representation of these states in the House.
Given this context, the state that would have been hurt the worst in terms of distribution of power if enslaved people were not counted towards the population at least 60 percent would be the Southern states, particularly those heavily dependent on slavery. States such as South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama, where slavery was deeply ingrained into their economic and social systems, would have experienced a significant reduction in their representation.
Without the Three-fifths Compromise, the aforementioned states would have had fewer seats in the House of Representatives, leading to a diminished ability to shape legislation and policies according to their interests. Additionally, the reduced population count could have impacted their influence in other aspects, such as the Electoral College system.
It is important to note that the Three-fifths Compromise was an unfair and dehumanizing measure, treating enslaved people as property rather than as individuals with equal rights. While it granted an advantage to southern states in terms of representation, it perpetuated the institution of slavery and contributed to the tensions between the North and the South leading up to the Civil War.