Critique the following constitutional provision protecting the property of slave owners. What would be an advantage of this policy? “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”
This constitutional provision, commonly known as the Three-Fifths Compromise, is a highly controversial and morally reprehensible provision that dehumanizes and reduces enslaved individuals to mere fractions for the purpose of determining representation and taxation. It is a clear endorsement of slavery and reinforces the idea that enslaved individuals are not entitled to the same full rights and recognition as free persons.
One potential advantage of this policy for slave owners is that it allowed them to wield more political power and influence in government. By counting their enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation, slave owners were able to bolster their representation in Congress and ensure their interests were protected. This gave them disproportionate political power and influence, further entrenching the institution of slavery in the United States.