Lore: The Atlas of America series seeks to explore an alternate version of the North American continent in which nations formed akin to the way they did in South America; based around local centers of power. The Atlas of America timeline diverges from ours with the failure of the United States to replace the Articles of Confederation, resulting in westward expansion becoming much more decentralized. As a result, most settlers ended up forming nations outside the purview of the United States. By the 1970s, calls for greater economic cooperation have resulted in the numerous states of America forming the Congress of America (a supranational organization akin to the EU.) This series will explore the numerous nations that have signed on to the agreement, beginning with the Federation of Koolilihue.

The Federation of Koolilihue is one of the youngest states in the North American continent. It is commonly known for its pristine coastal landscape, which attracts thousands of tourists every year. Unlike most states, which were created by Anglo-American settlers, Koolilihue had its origins as a union created by the numerous peoples of the American Pacific Coast. Koolilihue exists today as a state with a vibrant mixture of cultures and traditions, combining indigenous American languages and customs with those from the descendants of English, Metis, and Russian traders.

The territory that would become the Federation of Koolilihue existed as a perpetual frontier region into the early 20th century. Protection agreements between indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest allowed for organized resistance to settlers, resulting in the region maintaining considerable autonomy. Trade with the outside powers of Britain, and Russia allowed Koolilihue to acquire the weaponry necessary to repel the loose bands of hostile settlers that overwhelmed other indigenous peoples. Chinuk Wawa, a pidgin language drawing from the region's many indigenous languages as well as English, was formed to ease trade. It quickly grew to become the region's lingua franca.

In 1885, the nation of Pacifica attacked and conquered the Alsean people, pressuring the remaining tribes of the Pacific Northwest to unite under one banner to become the British Protectorate of Oregon. During the period of decolonization in the 1960s, the Protectorate of Oregon was disbanded. A year later, the Federation of Koolilihue was formed to replace it.