Question

question 7 of 10
in debates leading up to the three - fifths compromise, northern states argued that:
a. southern states should only be allowed to send representatives to the house of representatives, not to the senate.
b. slaves should be able to buy their freedom after working for a certain number of years.
c. slaves should not be included when counting a state’s population to determine representation in congress.
d. a strong federal government was necessary in order to ensure that slave states did not have an unfair economic advantage.

Explanation:

The Three-Fifths Compromise centered on whether enslaved people would count toward a state’s population for congressional representation. Northern states (with fewer enslaved people) argued enslaved individuals should not be counted, as they were not treated as citizens with rights, to prevent southern states from gaining more seats in the House of Representatives. This aligns with option C. Options A (Senate representation), B (buying freedom), and D (strong federal government for economic fairness) are unrelated to the core debate of the Three-Fifths Compromise.

Answer:

C. slaves should not be included when counting a state’s population to determine representation in Congress.