Question

What did Noah Webster most likely mean when he said "our pretended union is but a name, and our confederation, a cobweb"? a) He praised the strength of the Articles of Confederation. b) He criticized the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. c) He believed the union was too powerful. d) He supported the idea of a strong central government.

Answer 1

Noah Webster's statement criticized the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, indicating his belief in a stronger, centralized government for a more stable union.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Noah Webster said "our pretended union is but a name, and our confederation, a cobweb", he most likely meant that he criticized the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. His use of the term 'cobweb' implies that the existing Articles of Confederation lacked substance and strength, similar to how a cobweb is thin and easily broken. Webster was strongly in favor of a central government that had enough authority to govern and provide stability to the country. His statement suggests that he believed the confederation was merely an illusion of a strong union.

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