How did a high enslaved population in the southern states threaten the people of the northern states?

A large enslaved population could increase the South’s influence in the federal government because enslaved people were counted partly toward a state’s representation in Congress, even though they could not vote. This gave Southern states more seats and political power than their free-voting population alone would have provided. So the best choice is that it potentially gave the South more power in the government.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.