Final answer:
Representatives from Virginia and Maryland met at Mount Vernon in 1785 to resolve issues relating to their shared interests, which paved the way for further interstate cooperation and the Annapolis Convention, ultimately leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Step-by-step explanation:
Representatives from Virginia and Maryland met to work out their problems at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, in March 1785. This meeting addressed issues such as navigation of the Potomac River and set the precedent for interstate cooperation. Encouraged by the success of the Mount Vernon meeting, James Madison convinced others that a larger meeting was necessary, which led to the Annapolis Convention in 1786. Although the Annapolis Convention had representatives from only five states, it was a critical stepping stone towards the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, where a stronger federal government was created.