Fifths Compromise
History and Background of the Compromise:
If there was one thing that divided Southern and Northern states sharply during the ratification of constitution and immediately after it, it was none other than the institution of slavery. Slavery was indeed a dark and shameful practice that plagued the history of United States for many decades before it was finally abolished in 1860s. However before this time, South has a strong hold on the practice of slavery and no amount of opposition would deter it from its fixed ways of thinking. Southerners believed that the only way they could possibly have an edge over Northern states was with the help of their affluence, which was basically grounded in their rubber, cotton and other plantations. They needed large armies of slaves to work on these plantations since they were cheap labor and couldn't object to the level of wages.
Sugar plantation is heavily responsible for the growth of slavery on the United States. An ugly practice that began in Portugal spread to whole of Europe before it found its way to the Southern states of America. This was in fact one institution that every person with morals would found repulsive and degrading but since it was economically viable, Southerners were more than glad to have found a cheaper means of raising sugar and becoming economically stronger than their more modern Northern counterparts. This shameful practice continued in the United States without much opposition until the latter half of 1800s when Northerners launched staunch attack against inhumane treatment of slaves. It is important to understand that background of slavery and its practice in the U.S. before we discuss the significances or effects of Three-fifths compromise.
While slaves were definitely treated inhumanly, they did have certain impact on two important historical events, Ratification of constitution and Articles of confederation. Southern states...
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