How did the Three-Fifths Compromise change politics in the United States before the Civil War? (Select all that apply)
Northerners were able to admit the California Territory into the country as a free state.
Southerners were able to maintain control of the presidency because of the number of electors from each state.
Southerners were able to pass key pieces of legislation through Congress.
Northerners passed the Wilmot Proviso to outlaw slavery in land gained through the Mexican-American War.
B and C? My text didn't say much to help answer this question.
Oh, sorry I missed that there are two answers. They must be B and C.
I vote for B, primarily because it's more detailed than C.
I agree, but two of them are supposed to be correct. A and D don't sound right.
No problem, thank you! :)
You're welcome.
To determine how the Three-Fifths Compromise changed politics in the United States before the Civil War, we need to understand what the Three-Fifths Compromise was.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a provision in the United States Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 2, that counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining a state's population and representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise was made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and had significant political implications.
Now, let's analyze the answer choices based on the information provided:
A) Northerners were able to admit the California Territory into the country as a free state.
This answer choice is not directly related to the Three-Fifths Compromise. The admission of California as a free state was a result of other factors such as the California Gold Rush and the Compromise of 1850, which included the admission of California as a free state and other measures to address the balance between free and slave states.
B) Southerners were able to maintain control of the presidency because of the number of electors from each state.
This answer choice is correct. The Three-Fifths Compromise enhanced the political power of Southern states in several ways. By counting enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person, it increased the population count and subsequently increased the number of seats in the House of Representatives for Southern states. This, in turn, resulted in Southern states having more electors in the Electoral College, which influenced the election of the president. The Southern states could potentially use this advantage to maintain control of the presidency.
C) Southerners were able to pass key pieces of legislation through Congress.
This answer choice is also correct. The Three-Fifths Compromise gave Southern states more representatives in the House of Representatives due to counting enslaved individuals in their populations. With this increased representation, Southern states had more influence in Congress, making it easier for them to pass legislation that aligned with their interests and agendas. The compromise empowered Southern politicians to protect and expand the institution of slavery.
D) Northerners passed the Wilmot Proviso to outlaw slavery in land gained through the Mexican-American War.
This answer choice is not directly related to the Three-Fifths Compromise. The Wilmot Proviso was introduced in 1846 and aimed to prohibit slavery in the territories acquired from Mexico in the Mexican-American War. Its passage or failure was not influenced by the Three-Fifths Compromise.
Therefore, the correct answer choices based on the information provided are B) Southerners were able to maintain control of the presidency because of the number of electors from each state and C) Southerners were able to pass key pieces of legislation through Congress.