Actually it would have been helpful to have each slave counted as a full person because that would have meant more representatives in Congress. It was the northern colonies that didn't want the slaves counted as whole person. The south all ready had the largest States and to add the slave population in would have made them very powerful. By 1860 there would be 6 million slaves in the south so counting them as 3/4ths of a person wasn't great, but better than counting them as a whole person.
So they could count more votes
Southern states wanted to count slaves because the House of Representatives is based on population. The census is taken to determine how many representatives each state gets. Since the south was mostly made up of slaves, it would get more representatives if they were counted.
southern states
Southern States
slaves
The articles of the confederation was the document used to determine how slaves would be counted in a states population. The articles of the confederation were part of the Three Fifths compromise.
One-Half Compromise was the compromise that dealt with the Northern States concern of the Southern States using slaves as part of the counted population thus influencing their representation in Congress.
So they could count more votes
To get both the northern and southern states to agree to it. The southern states wanted slaves counted in the population for determining representation in Congress (even though slaves couldn't vote). The northern states wanted them excluded.
Northern states opposed it, Southern States were in favor. Finally they compromised, and agreed that 5 slaves would be counted as 3 citizens.
The northern states didn't have slavery as the southern states did, and they were smaller. They were afraid that if slaves were counted as part of the population that would give the southern states an advantage when they were represented in Congress. In 1790 35% of the population in VA was slave, so that can make a difference in the balance of power between states.
Southern states wanted to count slaves because the House of Representatives is based on population. The census is taken to determine how many representatives each state gets. Since the south was mostly made up of slaves, it would get more representatives if they were counted.
The disagreement over if and how slaves should be counted for Congressional apportionment purposes. The opposing sides were the northern states and the southern states. The northern states who opposed slavery argues that only free state inhabitants could be counted towards apportionment while the southern states argued that slaves should counted towards their population apportionment number.
Slaves should be counted when counting a stateβs population to determine representation in congress
It was used to determine population of states. Southern states had 9 million slaves and the smaller states didn't want them counted in the population so each slave was counted as 3/4 of a person in the census.
The question was, how should slaves be counted for the purpose of Congressional representation? The South wanted to count all slaves as "population", because this would increase the number of Representatives from the slave states. The northern states didn't want to include slaves AT ALL; if they weren't fully citizens and couldn't vote, why should they be counted for purposes of representation? The "three fifths" compromise gave southern states some additional Congressional representation, without giving the South an overwhelming advantage.
It was used to determine population of states. Southern states had 9 million slaves and the smaller states didn't want them counted in the population so each slave was counted as 3/4 of a person in the census.