Three-Fifths Compromise

Definition

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the drafting of the U.S. Constitution that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation.

Related terms

Slavery: A system where individuals known as slaves are treated as property and forced to work without consent.

Constitutional Convention: The meeting held in 1787 where delegates from twelve states wrote the U.S. Constitution.

Representation: In politics, it refers to citizens electing officials to make decisions on their behalf in government.