A feudal contract was an exchange of pledges established by custom and tradition that created the economic and political relationship between lords and vassals, or lesser lords. It was based on an exchange of land for loyalty and military service. ... A fief was an estate bestowed upon a vassal by a greater lord.
Serfs who occupied a plot of land were required to work for the lord of the manor who owned that land. ... Serfs were often required not only to work on the lord's fields, but also in his mines and forests and to labor to maintain roads.
The larger population a state had the more representation they got in Congress so southern states did want slaves to count towards the states population. Slaves would later be counted and 3 out of every 5 slaves were counted as people.
