So long as any individual state has power to defeat the measures of the other twelve, our pretended union is but a name, and our confederation, a cobweb.

Question

—Noah Webster

Question
What fundamental problem did Noah Webster see in the Articles of Confederation?
(1 point)
Responses

that states would always work in their own self-interest even if it meant harm to the nation as a whole
that states would always work in their own self-interest even if it meant harm to the nation as a whole

that the central government would always favor large states over the smaller states when disputes broke out
that the central government would always favor large states over the smaller states when disputes broke out

that small states would have just as much say in the government as larger states
that small states would have just as much say in the government as larger states

that the states would have no way to stop the central government from

Answer 1

the states would have no way to stop the central government from overstepping its authority.

Noah Webster's quote highlights his concern that individual states could undermine the collective authority of the confederation, leading to dysfunction and ineffectiveness in governance. Thus, the correct response is:

that states would always work in their own self-interest even if it meant harm to the nation as a whole.