[[U.S. Constitution]] Slave-holding states wanted slaves to count as people for appropriating [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. While it is criticized, had they been counted, the states of the [[Confederate States of America]] would have held more power, and [[Slavery]] as an institution would have likely held more strongly. If they were viewed as property at the time, they shouldn't have been included. Of course, they shouldn't have been viewed as property, either. [[Judge based on historical context]].