What was the purpose of the Annapolis Convention in 1786?

The purpose of the Annapolis Convention in 1786 was primarily to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Delegates from five states convened to discuss the practical issues arising from the inefficacy of the existing national government, particularly in terms of economic and trade challenges that arose due to the lack of a strong federal authority. The delegates recognized that the Articles of Confederation created a government that was too weak to manage the problems faced by the states, including issues related to trade, interstate commerce, and economic instability.

While the convention did include discussions about trade issues, it was ultimately a broader critique of the federal system under the Articles. The outcomes of the Annapolis Convention included a call for a larger meeting to revise the Articles, which led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, where a new federal constitution was drafted. This demonstrates that while discussions about trade and specific issues were present, the larger purpose was to confront and remedy the inherent weaknesses of the existing framework governing the new nation.