Answer:
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Explanation:
The issue of slavery at the Constitutional Convention was actually a highly debated and contentious issue. It revolved around two main points:
1. Representation: One aspect of the issue was how enslaved people would be counted when determining the population of each state for the purposes of representation in Congress. Southern states with a large enslaved population wanted them to be counted as part of their population, which would increase their representation in Congress. Northern states, however, argued that since enslaved people were considered property and not citizens, they should not be counted for representation. This led to the Three-Fifths Compromise, where each enslaved person was counted as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.
2. Economic Interests: The other aspect of the issue was related to the economic interests of the states. Slavery played a crucial role in the Southern economy, particularly in agriculture. Southern states relied heavily on enslaved labor for their plantations and farms. They feared that without the protection of slavery, their economic prosperity would be threatened. On the other hand, some Northern states had already abolished or were in the process of abolishing slavery, and their economies were not as dependent on it.
These conflicting viewpoints on representation and economic interests led to heated debates and compromises at the Constitutional Convention. The issue of slavery was ultimately not fully resolved, as it continued to be a divisive issue in the years to come, ultimately culminating in the American Civil War.