Final answer:
The establishment of the Electoral College during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a compromise meant to balance electoral power and prevent excessive direct democracy, while also making sure the President wouldn't be beholden to Congress for their election.
Step-by-step explanation:
One important goal of the Compromise that established the Electoral College during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to balance the interests between the election of the President by Congress and election by popular vote. The founders were concerned about too much democracy that could lead to mob rule and the undermining of a stable federal system.
Therefore, they created a special body of electors who could exercise independent judgment, expecting the Electoral College to act as a nominating body for the most qualified candidates, reducing the likelihood of capricious outcomes and preventing the new executive from being directly dependent on the legislative branch.