What event in 1786 involved representatives from only five states to address commercial relations?

The Annapolis Convention, held in 1786, was convened to address the issue of commerce among the states, highlighting the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, particularly regarding trade regulations. During this convention, representatives from only five states—New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia—gathered to discuss the commercial problems that states were facing, including tariffs and trade barriers that hindered economic interaction among them.

The importance of the Annapolis Convention lies in its role as a precursor to the Constitutional Convention, where broader issues of governance would be addressed. The limited attendance indicated the challenges of achieving consensus among the states, ultimately leading to the recognition that a stronger central government was necessary, which would be a central theme in the development of the U.S. Constitution.

In contrast, the Philadelphia Convention involved delegates from all thirteen states and focused on creating a new constitution, while the Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress dealt with different stages of the American Revolution and issues surrounding independence, rather than specific commercial relations.