Which policy determined that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for purposes of direct taxation and representation in the House?

Which policy determined that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for purposes of direct taxation and representation in the House?

• A. Preamble to the Constitution
• B. Three-Fifths Compromise
• C. Federalism
• D. Popular Sovereignty

Answer: (B)

This question centers on how enslaved people were counted for representation in Congress and for federal taxes. The policy that settled this was the Three-Fifths Compromise, reached at the Constitutional Convention. It stated that three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted when determining a state’s apportionment for the House of Representatives and for direct taxes. This compromise responded to a clash between Northern and Southern states: Southern states wanted enslaved people to boost their representation, while Northern states resisted counting enslaved people at all for taxation or representation. By counting only three-fifths, the Constitution created a formula that partly increased Southern influence while also tying representation to a share of the tax base. The other options don’t address how enslaved populations were counted: the Preamble lays out the goals of the Constitution, not population counting; Federalism describes how power is divided between state and national governments; Popular sovereignty is the principle that the people hold authority, not a method for counting people for representation or taxes.

This question centers on how enslaved people were counted for representation in Congress and for federal taxes. The policy that settled this was the Three-Fifths Compromise, reached at the Constitutional Convention. It stated that three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted when determining a state’s apportionment for the House of Representatives and for direct taxes. This compromise responded to a clash between Northern and Southern states: Southern states wanted enslaved people to boost their representation, while Northern states resisted counting enslaved people at all for taxation or representation. By counting only three-fifths, the Constitution created a formula that partly increased Southern influence while also tying representation to a share of the tax base. The other options don’t address how enslaved populations were counted: the Preamble lays out the goals of the Constitution, not population counting; Federalism describes how power is divided between state and national governments; Popular sovereignty is the principle that the people hold authority, not a method for counting people for representation or taxes.