1. The nation consisted of a loose alliance (union) of the independent states, which was called the League of ...

This loose alliance is referring to the League of Friendship. In this agreement, 13 American colonies united in their same goal: to avoid establishing a higher authority among them. To achieve this, it is stated in the U. S. Articles of Confederation that they should act as 'friends' that are merely looking out for each other. In other words, they want to remain as equals so that no one is reprimanding the other.