Most people who are aware of the three fifths clause of The Constitution [FN1] are offended by a cold determination that a slave was only 3/5 of a person. It “was ‘a purely mechanical and amoral calculation designed to produce harmony among conflicting interests.’" [FN2] 1/13

Scholars note the Framers of the Constitution “believed that concessions on slavery were” necessary for “support of southern delegates” and if the Constitution restricted the slave trade, S. Carolina & GA would refuse to join the Union.” [FN3] The 3/5 clause gave Southern 2/13

slave States more seats. “The additional southern representation in Congress, and added sway in voting for the president, would be significant ... at least a dozen additional congressmen, and a like number of additional electoral votes.” [FN4] 3/13

IN Lt Gov Micah Beckwith has no such misgivings. Beckwith describes the 3/5 clause “a smart move by the North” which didn’t want “to give The South power to enshrine slavery, since slaves weren’t allowed to vote.” [FN5] 4/13

Bad: IN Lt Gov Micah Beckwith’s assertion of matters as “fact” w/o any reference to relevant sources, on such an important topic. It only reinforces valid concerns that the person next in line to be Indiana’s Governor is a racist. And btw the 3/5 provision enshrined slavery. 5/13

Worse: Beckwith’s assertions can have no support from relevant sources. No one at the time made any such claims. The 3/5 provision was meant to cater to slave States and resulted in those States being over-represented. [FN6] Beckwith had to have made this up. 6/13

Worst: Beckwith wants to cram this racist crap into kids in our schools. [FN7] This is his “true history.” And he wants it to be the ONLY history taught. Beckwith held one public office prior to IN Lt Gov, on the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) board. 7/13

In 2023, Beckwith caused a loss of time & resources w/an ill-conceived plan to pull “smut” from the shelves. Beckwith sought to ban books & claims to know history. Really, Beckwith’s a dumbass. I approve of the content of this blog. Hell, I wrote it. 8/13

Footnotes:
FN1. “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among” the States” by adding to the number of free Persons, including those bound for a term of years, excluding Indians not taxed, “and three fifths of all other Persons.” Const. Art. I, sec 2, cl 3. 9/13

FN2. Senior CNN reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere quoting the National Constitution Center, on “X” @IsaacDovere, 4/25/25, accessed 5/1/25.
FN3. Mintz, Steven, “Historical Context: The Constitution and Slavery,” The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History,” accessed 1/10/25. 10/13

FN4. Stewart, David O., “The Summer of 1787,” (2007), pp. 81-82.
FN5. Beckwith statement on X, @adamwren 4/25/25, last accessed 5/1/25. 11/13

FN6. Virginia & other southern states were greatly overrepresented in the House because 3/5 of slaves, & there were 300,000 slaves in Virginia - were counted for apportionment.” Labunski, Richard, “James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights,” 2006, p. 301, n. 83. 12/13

FN7. “[S]uperintendents & principals “in today’s culture [do] not want someone like me coming in and teaching on true history [] and what it means to be an American.’” From Beckwith speech at IN GOP State convention. Nathan Gotsch, 6/10/24. 13/13