Before public conventions started, how were nominees for the presidency selected?

in closed meetings, by a small group of privileged citizens

Correct

in closed meetings, by a small group of privileged citizens

The small group where the presidential candidate was selected before the public conventions began was made up of white adults with a certain level of wealth and power. The reason why this system did not work is because people did not have a voice to choose from and the presidential candidate had greater dependence on Congress.

this means that germany had to pay the allied countries. reparations are/is essentially payment for something that they have done wrong, so after ww1, germany was forced to pay reparations so they could replenish the allied countries resources' that they had lost during the war.