the original 13 states of the United States of America constituted under the Articles of Confederation and superseded by the more formal union established in 1789
See full dictionary entry for Confederation
the Confederation in American English
US
1.
the United States of America (1781-89) under the Articles of Confederation
2.
the union of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in 1867 to form the Dominion of Canada