Why did the founders settle on the electoral college system for selection of the President of the United States? Could they have come up with a better solution? If so, explain and defend it. If not, what makes the electoral college the best system.

The electoral college system was the best solution they chose to democratically elect a president in a way that was both consistent with republican values and with the protections of rights of smaller states.

Explanation:

The Constitution and the new laws in the United States were revolutionary and pioneering by the end of the 18th century. The Founding Fathers could not look at a previous democratic model to find inspiration, because autocracy was the system of government anywhere else. One of the great dilemmas of democracy is how to avoid the tyranny of majorities over minorities. Could they have thought of a better system then? Maybe it was possible in theory, but it was very hard in practice. Besides, the population of the fomer colonies wasn't as large as it's today, and there were only 13 states, not 50. They could hardly have envision some outcomes we've seen in recent years when some candidates have won the popular vote, but have failed to win key states and electoral votes. They chose what they saw as the best option.