How did the
compromise
impact the
South’s political
power when
combined with the
Three-Fifths
Compromise?
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and it addressed the issue of representation in the new Congress. It proposed a bicameral legislature, with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.
The Three-Fifths Compromise, also reached during the Constitutional Convention, determined that for the purposes of representation and taxation, enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person.
When combined, these two compromises had a significant impact on the South's political power. The Three-Fifths Compromise enabled the South to gain additional representation in the House of Representatives based on their enslaved population. This meant that the South would have more seats in the House and thus more influence in the legislative process.
Furthermore, the Electoral College, which determines the outcome of presidential elections, was also affected by these compromises. The number of electors each state receives is determined by the size of its congressional delegation. By including enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of population count, the South was able to gain more electors. This gave them increased political power in the selection of the President.
Overall, the Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise together strengthened the South's political power by increasing their representation in Congress and the Electoral College, allowing them to have a greater influence in the new government.
The Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise had an impact on the South's political power in relation to the Electoral College. Here are the steps:
1. The Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It settled the debate between small and large states over representation in Congress.
2. The Compromise established a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House, representation would be based on population, while in the Senate, each state would have equal representation.
3. This compromise alone had an impact on the South's political power because it guaranteed some representation based on population. While the Southern states had a smaller population compared to the Northern states, they still had some influence in the House of Representatives.
4. However, when combined with the Three-Fifths Compromise, the South's political power was further influenced. The Three-Fifths Compromise stated that enslaved persons would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation.
5. This meant that even though enslaved people did not have voting rights, they were still counted for determining a state's population and thus its representation in the House of Representatives.
6. The South, which had a large enslaved population, benefited from this compromise as it increased its representation in Congress. This gave the Southern states more political power and influence in the national government.
7. The combination of the Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise, therefore, had a significant impact on the South's political power, allowing them to have more representation in the House of Representatives than they would have had based on their free population alone.
By combining these two compromises, the South was able to wield more influence in the political process and shape national policies, particularly on issues related to slavery.
To understand how the Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise impacted the South's political power in the context of the Electoral College, we need to break down each aspect separately.
1. The Compromise: The Compromise refers to the Great Compromise of 1787, which resolved the conflict between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention. It established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives, where states would be represented based on population, and the Senate, where each state would have an equal vote. This compromise ensured that both large and small states had a say in the legislative process.
2. The Three-Fifths Compromise: The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with the issue of counting enslaved individuals for the purpose of determining a state's population. It was agreed that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state's population for representation in the House of Representatives.
When combined, these two compromises had significant implications for the South's political power in the context of the Electoral College, which is the system used to elect the President of the United States.
In the Electoral College, each state is allocated a number of electors based on its representation in Congress. The number of electors is determined by adding the total number of Representatives and Senators that each state has.
Due to the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person, the Southern states had inflated population figures. This inflated population gave the Southern states more Representatives in the House of Representatives, thus increasing their overall representation in the Electoral College.
Since the Compromise ensured that all states had equal representation in the Senate, the Southern states had a dual advantage. They had both increased representation in the House of Representatives due to the Three-Fifths Compromise and equal representation in the Senate. Consequently, this effectively enhanced the South's political power in the Electoral College.
In summary, the combination of the Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise allowed the South to have greater political influence within the Electoral College, as it increased their representation in the House of Representatives.