Why is the structure set up by the Great Compromise still in effect today, while the structure established by the Three-Fifths Compromise is no longer in effect?
Understand the Problem
The question asks to compare the lasting impact of the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise on the structure of the U.S. government. It highlights that the Great Compromise's structure is still in effect, while the Three-Fifths Compromise's structure is not. The question implicitly requires an explanation of the historical contexts, purposes, and eventual fates of both compromises to understand why one endured and the other was abolished.
Answer
The Great Compromise is still in effect because of equal state representation in the Senate. The Three-Fifths Compromise is obsolete due to the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.
The Great Compromise is still in effect as it established equal state representation in the Senate, which is protected by the Constitution. The Three-Fifths Compromise is no longer in effect because the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1865, making the compromise obsolete.
Answer for screen readers
The Great Compromise is still in effect as it established equal state representation in the Senate, which is protected by the Constitution. The Three-Fifths Compromise is no longer in effect because the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1865, making the compromise obsolete.
More Information
The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with the Senate having equal representation for each state and the House of Representatives having representation based on population. The Three-Fifths Compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.
Tips
It is a common mistake to confuse the details of the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise. Remember that the Great Compromise was about representation between states, while the Three-Fifths Compromise concerned the counting of enslaved people for representation.
Sources
- Three-fifths compromise | Definition, Purpose, & History | Britannica - britannica.com
- About the Senate & the U.S. Constitution | Equal State Representation - senate.gov
- The Three-Fifths Compromise - Perspectives Of Change - perspectivesofchange.hms.harvard.edu
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