The phrase "warring states" refers to a historical period when several states or regions in a country are engaged in conflict or war with each other. Full definition
Follow the stories of Kyūshū and Shikoku in events leading to the end of an era of warring states of japan. (theyoungfolks.com)
Our own national history gives credence to such a hope: in the wake of our Civil War no state even dreams of resisting the decisions of Congress and the Supreme Court with force. (religion-online.org)
Up until around the Civil War the states largely carried out their own immigration policy, because of a lack of any federal guidance on the issue. (politics.stackexchange.com)