What was the method of selecting U.S. senators before the 17th Amendment was passed in 1913?

Before the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, U.S. senators were selected by state legislatures. This method was established by the original text of the Constitution, allowing state legislatures to appoint senators to represent their states in the federal government. The intention behind this system was to give states a direct role in the federal legislative process and to maintain a balance of power between the states and the federal government.

Over time, however, this process became problematic. Many state legislatures were plagued by deadlock and corruption, and public sentiment began to shift towards the idea that senators should be directly elected by the people they represent. The 17th Amendment responded to this demand by altering the method of election to a direct popular vote, thereby enhancing democratic participation in the electoral process.