3/5th compromise

Open Ended

What compromises have already been made by the delegates writing the Constitution?

3/5th compromise

Quotes on Slavery at the Convention

• "While there remained one acre of swamp-land uncleared of South Carolina, I would raise my voice against restricting the importation of [slaves.] … without them South Carolina would soon be a desert waste." Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, South Carolina Ratifying Convention

Multiple Choice

What is Pinckney's argument in favor of slavery?

• Southerners need people to do their work.

• It's important to bring religion to African people.

• People in slavery don't mind doing work for free.

Quotes on Slavery at the Convention

“[if we allow the Southern plan for Congress] …the inhabitant of a state who goes to the coast of Africa and …tears away his fellow creatures from their dearest connections and [curses] them to the most cruel slavery shall have more votes in a Government for protection of the rights of mankind.” Gouverneur Morris, New York

Multiple Choice

What does Morris say is wrong about the southern plan for representation?

• It's unfair to kidnap people to boost your population and representation in a "democratic" government.

• It's unfair to count everyone in the population.

• Everyone should get to vote.

Conflicting Plans

• South wanted to count the entire population (more people = more representatives in Congress)

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• North wanted to count the free population (if some people aren't allowed to be citizens, they shouldn't be counted to give the South more power)

Overview of the 3/5th Compromise

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-history/period-3/apush-the-constitutional-convention-and-debates-over-ratification/v/constitutional-compromises-the-three-fifths-compromise

Multiple Choice

How many enslaved people "equaled" 3 free people in the population under the 3/5ths Compromise?

• 5

• 3

• 1

What does this look like for states?

• In 1790, each state got ONE representative for every 30,000 people

• 3/5th of the enslaved population was included in this count

Northern States

• Pennsylvania - population 433,661 (3,707 enslaved people)

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• Under the Northern Plan 429,954 (free) / 30,000 = 14.33 representatives

• Under Southern Plan 433,661 / 30,000 = 14.45 representatives

• Under the Compromise 429,954 (free) + 2,224 (fraction of enslaved population) / 30,000 = 14.4 representatives

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Little change in numbers of representatives for northern states​

Southern States

• South Carolina- population 247,073 (104,094 enslaved people)

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• Under the Northern Plan - 142,979 (free) / 30,000 = 4.77 representatives.

• Under Southern Plan - 247,073 / 30,000 = 8.24 representatives

• Under the Compromise 142,979 (free) + 62,456 (fraction of slave) / 30,000 = 6.84 representatives

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  Changes in number of representatives for the southern states.

Poll

Do you think the 3/5th Compromise was fair?

• No, because it still gave the South more power than the North

• No, because it is still counting people were weren't treated like citizens

• Yes, because it was a little of what both sides wanted

• Yes, because it was the only way to get the Constitution approved