During the Three-Fifths Compromise debate, why did the slave states argue to count slaves as part of their population?

A. With a larger population, the slave states would be allowed more representatives in the national government, thus giving them more political power.

B. At the time, the slave states felt slaves should have equal rights and therefore be counted as part of the population.

C. The nonslave states wanted to count the slaves as three-fourths of a person rather than three-fifths.

D. It would allow slaves to become senators.

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History

Chance Houston

20 June, 08:25

During the Three-Fifths Compromise debate, why did the slave states argue to count slaves as part of their population?

A. With a larger population, the slave states would be allowed more representatives in the national government, thus giving them more political power.

B. At the time, the slave states felt slaves should have equal rights and therefore be counted as part of the population.

C. The nonslave states wanted to count the slaves as three-fourths of a person rather than three-fifths.

D. It would allow slaves to become senators.

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Answers (1)

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Anabelle Goodman · Answer 1

The correct answer is A) With a larger population, the slave states would be allowed more representatives in the national government, thus giving them more political power.

In the US House of Representatives, the states with larger populations have more representatives. This is important because the House of Representatives works with the Senate in order to make laws for the United States.

So, Southern states were heavily in favor of counting slaves towards the population. This would give Southern politicians more power to create national laws that would benefit their region.