Final answer:
During the formation of the United States, Southern states wanted slaves counted for congressional representation but not for taxation, while Northern states held the opposite view.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the formation of the United States, a significant debate unfolded concerning the counting of slaves for taxation and representation purposes. The Southern states wanted slaves to count towards representation to increase their political power in Congress but did not want them taxed as property. Conversely, Northern states preferred them counted for taxation purposes but not for representation. Ultimately, the Three-Fifths Compromise was reached, where a slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for both determining representation and taxation. This formula significantly impacted the political and financial landscape of the newly formed nation. Disagreement over the slave trade and its continuation also factored into these negotiations, leading to the decision to not stop the trade before 1808.