Three-Fifths Compromise

Definition

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention that determined each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of state representation in Congress and taxation. This compromise was pivotal in addressing the political power distribution between Northern and Southern states.

Related terms

Constitutional Convention: The gathering that drafted the Constitution of the United States in 1787, where major decisions about the nation's government and laws were made.

Representation: In politics, this refers to elected officials acting on behalf of a group of people in legislative bodies.

Slavery: A system in which individuals are owned by others, deprived of personal freedom, and forced to perform labor or services without compensation