Lesson 69 of 84 · The Constitution
⭐ 30 XP🏛️ Civic SquareThe Three-Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention regarding how slaves would be counted when determining a state's population.
🎯 Your mission
Decide what YOU would do in their shoes.
⚡ The twist
A 'fair rule' for one group can be unfair for another.
Mind = Blown
🤯 Women in New Zealand could vote 27 years before women in the US.
Then & Now
🏛️ The rule you'll meet today is still on the books — sort of.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention regarding how slaves would be counted when determining a state's population. Southern states wanted to count enslaved individuals for representation in Congress, while Northern states opposed this. The compromise stated that each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation. This agreement highlighted the deep divisions in American society at the time and the ongoing struggles around issues of slavery and equality.
Key Facts
The Three-Fifths Compromise determined how slaves would be counted for representation.
Each enslaved person counted as three-fifths of a person.
This compromise reflected the societal divisions over slavery.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2What did the Three-Fifths Compromise determine?
Why this still matters
Your school has rules. Where do they come from? Who decides them?
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Make up a fair rule for your family. Pitch it.
For the dinner table
“What's one rule at our house you'd change if you could vote on it?”
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