Very interesting article and interpretation on that here:
http://adask.wordpress.com/2011/10/1...united-states/
"If I’m right, the Constitution created the “United States” but some other document must’ve created or constituted “The United States of America”.
Q: What other document predated “The Constitution of the United States” (ratified by the People in A.D. 1788) that might’ve constituted/created “The United States of America”?
A: The Articles of Confederation ratified in A.D. 1781."