Question

Describe the controversy surrounding the slavery issue. How was this resolved at the Constitutional Convention?

Answer 1

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 is considered to be a pivotal time frame in the history of the newly evolvement of United States of America. The slavery and laves were an significant consideration, especially in the count of the population for any particular state. Delegates who were opposed to slavery wanted to consideration of the free inhabitants of each state as for them the slaves are property, not persons; and on the other hand the delegates in support of slavery wanted the consideration of the slaves in their actual numbers as wanted huge number of slaves to be included in the count of population. As slaves could not vote, thus the slaveholders would avail the benefit of more number of representations in the House and the Electoral College

The debate result set forth in Article 1, Section 2, and Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of U.S. was a compromise, incorporating ideas of both individual and property. Population would be computed by including the whole number of free inhabitants consisting of those bound to service for a term of years, and not considering the Indians not taxed, plus 3/4th of all other individuals. The final settlement of considering all other persons to be only three-fifths of their actual numbers decreased the power of the states with slave relative to the original proposals of southern, and increased it over the northern position.