. When, communicating clearly in one paragraph, explain how the Great Compromise and the Electoral College, when combined with the Three-Fifths Compromise, affect the political power of southern states.
The Great Compromise, Electoral College, and Three-Fifths Compromise all significantly impact the political power of southern states. The Great Compromise, reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, established a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise gave every state, regardless of size or population, an equal say in the Senate, favoring smaller states, while the House of Representatives allocated seats based on population, benefiting larger states. However, the Three-Fifths Compromise altered this power dynamic further by counting three-fifths of the enslaved population towards a state's representation in the House. As a result, southern states with a large enslaved population were able to gain additional seats and, consequently, wield greater political influence in the House. Additionally, the Electoral College, another compromise in the Constitution, further enhanced the political power of southern states. The number of electoral votes each state receives is determined by its representation in Congress, combining both the Senate and House seats. Thus, the inclusion of enslaved individuals in the Three-Fifths Compromise boosted the overall representation of southern states, increasing their electoral power. In summary, the Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, and Electoral College ultimately bolstered the political power of southern states, particularly by granting them larger representation in the House and more electoral votes.
