Lesson 37 of 84 · The Constitution
⭐ 30 XP🏛️ Civic SquareThe Three-Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement made during the Constitutional Convention that addressed how slaves would be counted when determining a state's population for representation in Congress.
🎯 Your mission
Learn how the rule got made — and who it serves.
⚡ The twist
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Mind = Blown
🤯 Some laws on the books are over 800 years old and still apply.
Then & Now
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The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement made during the Constitutional Convention that addressed how slaves would be counted when determining a state's population for representation in Congress. Southern states wanted to count enslaved people to increase their representation, while Northern states opposed this idea, arguing that enslaved individuals should not be counted at all. The compromise stated that each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person. This compromise highlighted the deep divisions over slavery in the United States and had lasting effects on the political landscape.
Key Facts
The Three-Fifths Compromise counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person.
It was a compromise between Northern and Southern states.
This agreement affected the number of representatives each state had in Congress.
Timeline
The Civil War ends; slavery is abolished
The Transcontinental Railroad is completed
Women gain the right to vote (19th Amendment)
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
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For the dinner table
“What's one rule at our house you'd change if you could vote on it?”
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