Ask Civics 101: Why do we have the Electoral College?

<p>The Electoral College was created as a bulwark, a barrier between the people and the vote for the president. The founders feared giving people too much power so they created a system that put a check on the people's vote by "men of virtue" (and they were all men at the time). It is because of the Electoral College that a person can win the presidency even if they lose the popular vote — but how does it work, exactly?</p>