The twelfth amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1804, established the system of indirect election of the President and Vice President. In this system, the United States Congress selects the presidential electors who actually cast the votes for the President and Vice President. These electors are chosen by the individual states.

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, played an important role in advocating for this system of indirect election. Although this system had been proposed to the states in 1789, it remained unpopular until Jackson’s presidency. Jackson argued that the state legislatures should be the ones to choose the electors and that this would ensure that the President and Vice President were chosen by the people. He argued that this was a more democratic approach than letting Congress decide.

In 1832, Jackson made a passionate appeal to the states, urging them to adopt the system of indirect election. He argued that the states could protect their interests better if they chose their own presidential electors. He also argued that this method would be more transparent to the citizens and would better ensure that the President and Vice President were chosen by the people.

Jackson’s persuasive powers paid off. By 1836, almost all of the states had adopted the system of indirect election. Even today, this process remains in place. The states choose the electors and those electors select the President and Vice President.

This system of indirect election was a key achievement of Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Through his persuasive powers, he was able to convince the states to choose their own presidential electors. This victory was an important step forward in making the election of the President and Vice President more transparent and democratic.