"The united states are vs. the united states is"

Before the civil war it was thought that the united states was independent, and not united as a country. This is correct because every state had their own laws, and way of life. After the war they came together and became the united states is. Their laws became more similar than before. I believe this quote is true. The united states did not act as one big country until the civil war ended, and the north and south didnt become one until the war was over, and abolished slavery.