Indiana Lt. Governor Defends Three-Fifths Compromise Amid DEI Bill Debate
Controversy erupts over historical interpretation as Indiana passes anti-DEI legislation
Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith has sparked controversy by defending the Three-Fifths Compromise while criticizing state Senate Democrats who opposed a Republican-led bill restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The legislation, Senate Bill 289, passed in a 64-26 vote and now awaits Governor Mike Braun's signature. Beckwith claimed Democrats misunderstood American history when they compared the anti-DEI bill to the 1787 constitutional provision that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation purposes.
Beckwith argued that the Three-Fifths Compromise was not discriminatory but rather 'designed to make sure that justice was equal for all people.' He attributed what he called historical misunderstandings to DEI education programs and 'woke schools.' Many historians, however, note that the compromise gave slaveholding states disproportionate power in Congress and the Electoral College, thereby entrenching slavery in the national political framework.
KEY POINTS
- •Indiana passes anti-DEI legislation
- •Lt. Governor defends Three-Fifths Compromise
- •Reflects national trend of DEI rollbacks
The debate over SB 289 reflects broader national disputes about race, discrimination, and how U.S. history is taught and incorporated into policy. Republican-led states have increasingly moved to restrict DEI programs in government and education. President Donald Trump has prioritized removing such initiatives across federal government and higher education institutions, with many corporations following suit by rolling back their own DEI efforts.
Continue reading this article on the TrueGov App
Plus access audio versions, original sources, and article customization