Final answer:
The Three-Fifths Compromise, proposed by James Wilson and Roger Sherman, was an agreement during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for legislative representation and taxation. It allowed Southern states to have greater political influence and was regarded as a mockery of democratic values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Three-Fifths Compromise was proposed by delegates James Wilson and Roger Sherman during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. To resolve a deadlock between the Northern and Southern states, this compromise agreed that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for both taxation purposes and determining the number of representatives a state would have in the legislature.
This compromise was seen by many as a mockery to the principles of democracy and equality, as it recognized slaves as less than whole individuals and gave the Southern states disproportionate influence in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.
The Three-Fifths Compromise was controversial because it not only reinforced the institution of slavery but also gave Southern states more representation despite a large portion of their populations (slaves) lacking any political rights or freedoms.
Additionally, the Compromise addressed the contentious issue of the slave trade, allowing it to continue until 1808. It avoided direct reference to the term 'slave,' instead using phrases like 'free persons' and 'all other persons.' This reflected the moral and ethical conflict that the Founding Fathers faced over slavery after the American Revolution.