 Most accepted the desire among the slave states to count slaves as part of the population , although their servile status was raised as a major objection against this . The Three @-@ Fifths Compromise assessing population by adding the number of free persons to three @-@ fifths of " all other persons " ( slaves ) was agreed to without serious dispute . In 1783 , when attempting to assess a national taxation system , the Confederation Congress had considered a three fifths ratio , which did not achieve unanimity . This compromise resulted in a large coalition of states , including the small slave states of South Carolina and Georgia , backing the Virginia plan and thus expanding the power of the primary coalition . That the lower house was to be elected directly by the voters was also accepted without major dispute . 
