Final answer:
The Electoral College was established to balance the selection of the president between Congress and the public vote, serving as a buffer against direct democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decision to establish an Electoral College for the election of the president and vice president was based on the desire to balance the power between the selection of the president by a vote in Congress and the selection of the president by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The framers of the Constitution created the Electoral College as a compromise to satisfy both those who wanted the president to be elected by Congress and those who wanted a popular election. This system also served as a buffer to prevent the perceived risks of direct democracy, ensuring that the general populace did not have unchecked power in electing the president and that a separate, informed body ultimately made the decision.