What was the arrangement that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes?

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a critical agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, specifically addressing the contentious issue of how slaves would be counted when apportioning representation in Congress. Southern states, which had large enslaved populations, wanted slaves to be fully counted to increase their representation, while Northern states, where slavery was less prevalent, argued that slaves should not be counted at all since they were not considered citizens.

The compromise established that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation. This arrangement reflected the political and economic realities of the time, allowing Southern states to gain a greater share in the House of Representatives without fully recognizing slaves as citizens or granting them any rights. The Three-Fifths Compromise effectively balanced the interests of slaveholding and non-slaveholding states during the formation of the Constitution, although it entrenched the institution of slavery within the political system of the United States.

Understanding this compromise is crucial as it highlights the complexities of American governance during this period and reveals the compromises made regarding slavery, which would have lasting implications for the nation's history.