In fact only two States accepted it.
It usually happens that some minor occurrence, almost unnoticed at the time, leads directly to the most important consequences.

And an incident in domestic affairs started the chain of events in the United States that ended in the reform of the Federal Government.

The rivalry and jealousy among the States had brought matters to such a pass that either Congress must be vested with adequate powers or the Confederation must collapse.

But the Articles of Confederation provided no remedy, and it had been found that amendments to that instrument could not be obtained.
It was necessary, therefore, to proceed in some extra-legal fashion.
The Articles of Confederation specifically forbade treaties or alliances between the States unless approved by Congress.

Yet Virginia and Maryland, in 1785, had come to a working agreement regarding the use of the Potomac River, which was the boundary line between them.
Commissioners representing both parties had met at Alexandria and soon adjourned to Mount Vernon, where they not only reached an amicable settlement of the immediate questions before them but also discussed the larger subjects of duties and commercial matters in general.