Ch. 1.3. Primary Source: The Annapolis Convention Resolution, Sept., 1786
More than six months before discontent in Massachusetts erupted in Shays’s Rebellion, on January 21, 1786, James Madison had suggested to the Virginia Assembly that it invite all the States to discuss ways to reduce interstate conflicts in Annapolis, Maryland. Beginning on September 11, 1786, a meeting was held there mainly to discuss interstate trade. Attendance was low, with only 12 delegates representing just five states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia).
The “commissioners” in attendance at Annapolis suggested, however, that the conversation be both deepened and widened. On September 14, Alexander Hamilton introduced the resolution below, which called for the convening of a special convention to amend the Articles of Confederation for a number of serious defects.
The convention adopted the resolution unanimously, but because of the few representatives in attendance, their authority was limited. Nevertheless, this resolution helped to spark a movement for reform, in part because many felt that the weaknesses of the federal government under the Articles were revealed by its inability to help Massachusetts to suppress Shays’s Rebellion (see above, ch. 1.2).
Resolution of the Annapolis Convention
Proceedings of the Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government, Annapolis in the State of Maryland. September 14, 1786.
To the Honorable, The Legislatures of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York–assembled at Annapolis, humbly beg leave to report.
That… they found that the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, had, in substance, and nearly in the same terms, authorized their respective Commissions “to meet such other Commissioners as were, or might be, appointed by the other States in the Union, at such time and place as should be agreed upon by the said Commissions to take into consideration the trade and commerce of the United States, to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial intercourse and regulations might be necessary to their common interest and permanent harmony…”
That the State of New Jersey had enlarged the object of their appointment, empowering their Commissioners, “to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations and other important matters, mighty be necessary to the common interest and permanent harmony of the several States,” and to report such an Act on the subject, as when ratified by them, “would enable the United States in Congress assembled, effectually to provide for the exigencies of the Union.” …
That the express terms of the powers of your Commissioners supposing a deputation from all the States, and having for object the Trade and Commerce of the United States, Your Commissioners did not conceive it advisable to proceed on the business of their mission, under the Circumstances of so partial and defective a representation.
Deeply impressed, however, with the magnitude and importance of the object confided to them on this occasion, your Commissioners cannot forbear to indulge an expression of their earnest and unanimous wish, that speedy measures be taken, to effect a general meeting, of the States, in a future Convention, for the same, and such other purposes, as the situation of public affairs may be found to require…
In this persuasion, your Commissioners submit an opinion, that the Idea of extending the powers of their Deputies, to other objects, than those of Commerce, which has been adopted by the State of New Jersey, was an improvement on the original plan, and will deserve to be incorporated into that of a future Convention; …[because] the power of regulating trade is of such comprehensive extent, and will enter so far into the general System of the federal government, that to give it efficacy, and to obviate questions and doubts concerning its precise nature and limits, may require a correspondent adjustment of other parts of the Federal System.
That there are important defects in the system of the Federal Government is acknowledged by the Acts of all those States, which have concurred in the present Meeting… Your Commissioners decline an enumeration of those national circumstances… They are, however, of a nature so serious, as, in the view of your Commissioners, to render the situation of the United States delicate and critical, calling for an exertion of the untied virtue and wisdom of all the members of the Confederacy.
Under this impression, Your Commissioners, with the most respectful deference, beg leave to suggest their unanimous conviction that it may essentially tend to advance the interests of the union if the States, by whom they have been respectively delegated, would themselves concur, and use their endeavors to procure the concurrence of the other States, in the appointment of Commissioners, to meet at Philadelphia on the second Monday in May next, to take into consideration the situation of the United States, to devise such further provisions as shall appear to them necessary to render the constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union; and to report such an Act for that purpose to the United States in Congress assembled, as when agreed to, by them, and afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of every State, will effectually provide for the same.
Though your Commissioners could not with propriety address these observations and sentiments to any but the States they have the honor to represent, they have nevertheless concluded from motives of respect, to transmit copies of the Report to the United States in Congress assembled, and to the executives of the other States.
Sources: The above summary of the Annapolis Convention and the text of the resolution are both adapted from the Teaching American History website: the former from the page Introduction to the Constitutional Convention; and the latter from the page “General Readings on the Founding,” under The Annapolis Convention. Underlining has been added to a few key passages.