The states did not create the US. The US was created by the People, acting through their representitives (As Continental Congress) and updated the US government with the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.
Washington was the 17th President. As he took his oath, the 16th stood next to him, though the 16th president has been elected by the terms of the Confederation.
The People! Because of that, Webster accepted financial support from Southern benefactors, just as Calhoun accepted funds from Western supporters.
One country.
The 'representatives' of which you speak were from the States, so how could the states NOT have created the US?
The People 'ordained and established' the Constitution, which means it had their approval......they didn't directly create it.
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Washington was the 17th President. As he took his oath, the 16th stood next to him, though the 16th president has been elected by the terms of the Confederation.
Congress before the Constitution
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was a unicameral body in which each state was equally represented, and in which each state had a veto over most action. States could, and did, ignore what did pass. The ineffectiveness of the federal government under the Articles led Congress to summon the Convention of 1787. Originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, it ended up writing a completely new constitution.
The above reason was why Washington was considered the first President. While a good part of the Articles of Confederation was used, it was still changed enough to be considered an entirely new Constitution.