Slavery, Commerce & The Presidency

Core Concepts

Key compromises on the issues of slavery, interstate commerce, and the structure of the executive branch.

Slavery, Commerce & The Presidency

1 of 10

How did the Convention decide to count enslaved individuals when determining a state's population for representation and taxation?

Through the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted every $5$ enslaved individuals as $3$ free persons for apportionment.

What fraction was used to count an enslaved person for representation purposes under the Three-Fifths Compromise?

$$ \frac{3}{5} $$

What was the political effect of the Three-Fifths Compromise for Southern states?

It significantly increased their representation in the House of Representatives and their influence in the Electoral College.

What agreement was reached regarding the importation of enslaved people?

The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise stated that Congress could not ban the importation of slaves until the year $1808$.

What power did the Commerce Compromise grant to Congress, a key weakness under the Articles?

It granted Congress the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.

To protect Southern economic interests, what was Congress forbidden from doing under the Commerce Compromise?

Congress was prohibited from taxing exports from any state.

How did the delegates decide the President should be elected, avoiding both direct popular vote and election by Congress?

They created the Electoral College system, where electors chosen by each state would vote for the president.

How is the number of electors for each state determined in the Electoral College?

Each state's number of electors is the sum of its number of Senators (always $2$) and its number of Representatives in the House.

What is the length of a single term for the President of the United States?

A four-year term.

Did the original Constitution, as drafted in $1787$, contain a Bill of Rights?

No, a Bill of Rights was not included. Its absence became a major point of contention during the ratification debates.

Confirm Action