I understand the 17th Amendment. I teach the constitutional implications of that addition to an AP Government class and two classes of U.S. History. State legislatures chose senators before the 17th Amendment (Section. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof [Modified by Amendment XVII], for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.).
By “elected,” I did not mean to say he was POPULARLY elected. I apologize for the confusion. Next time I make a post, I’ll be sure to explain more thoroughly and make the appropriate citations. We are agreed, however, on the value of the so-called “progressive” amendments.
My own (1960; oh, my!) 8th grade teacher (memorizing, and learning a working knowledge of, and passing comprehensive tests on each Article and Amendment, Section by Section, and how they interrelated, was a state requirement for graduation into high school) was Conservative, and taught it accordingly.
Same for my 12th grade Civics teacher. Not so much my required U.S. History college classes.
I know the legislatures voted, in one form or another, for their state's Senators; but I always thought of that as an “appointment”.
Oh, and thank you for posting the entire article, rather than following the curerent fad of bloggers excerpting their own material to generate hits...and it is an interesting site.