how were senators elected before the 17th amendment

Before the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1913, U.S. Senators were elected by state legislatures, not by direct popular vote. The original constitutional framework, established in 1787 under Article I, Section 3, provided that each state legislature would choose two senators to represent the state for six-year terms. This method was intended by the framers to maintain a balance of power between the federal government and the states, ensuring that senators represented the interests of their state governments rather than the general populace. The rationale was that state legislatures, consisting of elected representatives, would act as a "filter" to select "better men" for the Senate, providing a more deliberative and stable legislative body compared to the House of Representatives, whose members were directly elected every two years. This system also served as a protection against populism and ensured states had an indirect voice in federal governance. However, over time, this method led to problems such as deadlocks within state legislatures, leaving Senate seats vacant for extended periods, and corruption or control by political machines. These issues motivated the Progressive Era reformers to push for direct election by the people, culminating in the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, which established the direct popular election of Senators. In summary, before the 17th Amendment, Senators were elected by state legislatures as a deliberate design to balance federal and state powers and to provide a more stable, less populist legislative chamber.