The Constitutional Convention of 1787 is one of the most famous events in world history- over the course of around 4 months (May to September), a few dozen men representing twelve states somehow hashed out the most groundbreaking document in political history (Rhode Island was the only state not to participate). But the Constitutional Convention did not just happen out of nowhere. A series of events- and shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation- ultimately led to that pivotal summer, rightfully described by many as the “Miracle at Philadelphia” (author Catherine Drinker Bowen has an excellent book by that title).
Though the Articles of Confederation were adopted on November 15, 1777, they were not actually ratified until March 1, 1781, when Maryland finally ratified (ongoing land disputes in the west were the reason). But the establishment of the Confederation Congress under the Articles of Confederation did little to solve the problems of the United States. Not only did the American Revolutionary War still need to be won, but a host of issues awaited the American government. Some of the key shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation included: Congress had no power to tax and raise money, there was no executive branch to enforce laws, no national judiciary to settle disputes, it had weak control over commerce, and they were nearly impossible to amend (it required all 13 states to agree).
Mount Vernon Conference (March 28, 1785)
Because the Confederation Congress was unable to settle disputes between states, multiple states had ongoing conflict. One of the most prevalent was between Virginia and Maryland over navigation and fishing rights on Chesapeake Bay, the Pocomoke River, and most importantly, the Potomac River. Since these were a shared waterways between the two states, legislators from both understood the importance of coming to some sort of agreement. Though a proposed conference was set to take place in Alexandria, the Virginia commissioners did not show up since they were not given authority to discuss anything but the Potomac. Enter: George Washington. With his plantation, Mount Vernon, located on the banks of the Potomac River, Washington had a vested interest in how this dispute played out. When he heard about the planned conference, he invited commissioners from both Maryland Virginia to Mount Vernon.
On March 28, 1785, what is now known as the “Mount Vernon Conference” took place. It was a successful venture, as the two sides came up with a 13-point agreement about shared rights on all three waterways. Though a settlement between just two states, the Mount Vernon Conference set an important precedent for the nation: states could come together and come to an agreement on mutual issues.
Annapolis Convention (September 11-14, 1786)
Over the next year and a half, the Confederation Congress maintained tenuous control over the country, as economic issues and moments of unrest, such as Shay’s Rebellion, shook the nation. James Madison, then a member of the House of Representatives, sounded a call to discuss the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and to address issues with interstate trade. His home state of Virginia took the lead and formally invited other states to meet in Annapolis to discuss commercial issues.
On September 11th, 1786, twelve men representing the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia, met at Mann’s Tavern in Annapolis (interestingly, Maryland did not have any commissioners present). Other states did express interest in supporting this convention and even appointed other commissioners; however, they were unable to attend due to various reasons. The commissioners in attendance were:
- Alexander Hamilton (NY)
- Egbert Benson (NY)
- Abraham Clark (NJ)
- William C. Houston (NJ)
- James Schuarman (NJ)
- Tench Coxe (PA)
- George Read (DE)
- John Dickinson (DE)
- Richard Bassett (DE)
- Edmund Randolph (VA)
- James Madison (VA)
- Saint George Tucker (VA)
Not much happened over the first few days, but on Thursday, September 14th, it was confirmed that they met to:
“Take into consideration the trade and Commerce of the United States, to consider how far an uniform system in their commercial intercourse and regulations might be necessary to their common interest and permanent harmony, and to report to the several States such an Act, relative to this great object, as when unanimously ratified by them would enable the United States in Congress assembled effectually to provide for the same.”
Yet because there were so few commissioners present, they all agreed that it was not “advisable to proceed on the business of their mission, under the Circumstance of so partial and defective a representation.” Accordingly, they agreed that a future convention, one where the commissioners were given “enlarged powers,” should be held. Specifically, they proposed that commissioners of every state “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.”
Simply put, they agreed that representatives of every state should meet to discuss the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. But Alexander Hamilton and James Madison had much larger goals for the Philadelphia convention: they wanted to propose an entirely new system of government.
Mann’s Tavern & the Legacy of the Annapolis Convention
Mann’s Tavern was located on Main Street in Annapolis and was very popular in that era- George Washington stayed there during his visits to the city, to include in December 1783 when he resigned his military commission before Congress. Over the years, other buildings were constructed nearby, which became part of a “complex” of structures. This included a building that served as George Mann’s residence (or at least, was intended to be), which was built circa 1787-1789. By the mid-1800s, this portion of the complex became known as City Hotel, which hosted guests such as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe.
The original Mann’s Tavern, where the Annapolis Convention took place, is no longer standing—lost to a fire in 1919 that destroyed much of the complex. Fortunately, the structure at 162 Conduit Street still survives, and today a plaque marks the site and tells the story of the convention. Since 1888, this building has been used by Annapolis Lodge No. 89 of the Freemasons for lodge meetings (they’ve owned it since 1900).
While the Annapolis Convention is often overlooked, it played a crucial role in paving the way for the Philadelphia Convention, which ultimately produced the United States Constitution. In that sense, its legacy still lives on in the government we have today.