How did the electoral college compromise impact the South’s political power when combined with the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The Electoral College compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise both had significant impacts on the South's political power.
The Electoral College compromise, established during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, was a result of the division between the large and small states. It was settled that the president would not be elected directly by the people but by electors chosen by each state. The number of electors for each state would be based on its representation in Congress, combining both the number of representatives and senators.
The South benefited from this compromise as it had a significant number of enslaved individuals who were not able to vote. The Three-Fifths Compromise, also agreed upon during the Constitutional Convention, determined that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for both determining a state's population and taxation purposes. This compromise ultimately increased the population of the Southern states.
The combination of the Electoral College compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise gave the South more political power than they would have had if only free individuals were counted. By counting enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person, the Southern states gained additional electoral votes and representation in Congress. This gave the region increased influence and political clout in determining the president and passing legislation.
In essence, the compromises allowed the South to maintain a greater degree of control over the political system, as it boosted their representation and electoral votes despite not granting suffrage to all individuals. However, it is important to note that these compromises were deeply rooted in the injustice of slavery, as they perpetuated the institution and further marginalized enslaved people.