Why does USA refer to itself as America?

Question

I for one find it confusing, in contrast with Australia, which covers the whole continent that is its namesake, USA covers only a fraction of what it claims for itself with the name "America". How come Mexicans aren't "Americans" even though they clearly live in America?
Why did such an ambigious definition for America and Americans arise? Why aren't people satisfied with "The United States"?

So, bottom line it's because it is convienient? I suppose USA doesn't really have a proper name- it is more like a description adapted as a name.
Does this stem from the republican ideals of independent states- The country's name wasn't important, as long as the states had them.

Amerigo Vespucci didn't really do so much discovering as writing an entertaining book about his visit to "America", which was such a success among the european nobles that they decided to name the continent after him (an ulterior motive was to pick fun at Columbus, who was out of favour from the courts)...
That is, If my memory serves me correctly.

Answer 1

Taivo's final paragraph has the basic point -- there IS no other proper place name for the country ("united" and "states" won't do).

But I'm dubious about the alternate history (courtesy of a couple of Masons, who not surprisingly credit the Knights Templar with this and a whole host of other "surpressed truths"). A simple response to this theory:

"First, simply because the Templars were booted out of France and purportedly went seeking a land under a star called La Merica, and just because there actually was a star called La Merica, does not a sound etymology make. The first person to use the name America in writing was cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in 1507. Perhaps there is a yet-to-be-discovered document that proves a secret Templar/Masonic connection, but until we find it, Herr Waldeseemüller and Signore Vespucci get the credit."
http://www.takeourword.com/TOW160/page4.html

(Caveat -- I haven't checked out the claim "there is a star called La Merica", etc. But the point is, even if all that part IS true, it does not prove the Masonic claim and certainly does not prove the Waldseemüller story a Catholic fabrication.)

Answer 2

Actually, America is NOT named after Amerigo Vespucci. That was a legend invented by a German mapmaker over a hundred years after Columbus and supported by the Catholic Church. The Knights Templars had a coat of arms which showed a ship sailing west towards a star called La Merica (in French). When the Templars were destroyed by the Catholic Church in the early 14th century, the rumor spread throughout western Europe that the remnants of the order had sailed west to their star La Merica. When Columbus returned from his voyage, popular rumor again spread that he had found the western land of the Templars under the star La Merica (which is phonetically identical to L'America). "America" was being called "America" before Vespucci did a thing. The Church, in its continuing attempts to suppress the Templars, accepted the German's false connection between Vespucci and the name of the new land and spread it as official.

To answer your question, it is the United States of America, thus "America", just as the United States of Brazil was still "Brazil", and the United Federation of X would be called "X".

Answer 3

What a GREAT quesition....wow! History, hence the Americas. people who live here for a period of time enough to become estabished even if not entirely from all over the world CAN become Americans....the USA thing is an outgrowth of one natin pulling togeher once having fought for not simply freedom, but "Emancipation"~ If yu can see my picture (sometimes it doesn't show would you guess i am Hawaiian?Born there before it became a state. My parent grew up there....it is different than the mainland. Fortunately i blend. i was of a minority in Hawaii.
it is something to be made clear as time ensues, thisis STILL a newer country, forming making rules, breaking them , ammending them......and we alll want one thing, to be healthy , safe and happy...now isn't that GLOBAL?
Ever look at a person of colour and don't notice it? or someone from a foreign country whose accent you don't pick up on for weeks as you intently exchange words and music, ideas...possibilities?
I have.....I am grateful.
As far as your question, which is relly layered, prejudice is being fought, equality is sought, education has become so paramount that regionally i sadly see the differences...so i donated my time for three years to children who had NO books to read at home.book drives well atttended, spread to them all...at the top we had about 16 all age.....Something I could do for FREE to give back.....I got to share my passion for books to go beyond the text and INTO the story.....they were mainly hispanic by ethnicity....some not...some I shall never know. It was NOT what was spoken of....tho no topic was wrong.\
My motto was and will alway be"NO wrong answers....." & "Hurry! Questions make my mind bounce!!!" as though on a trampoline, activating the right and left hempispheres of the brain. I am not a certified teacher.....but this I can say...each of these children was precious, wide eyed and eager. often their parents didnt speak much English...I made sure to have their approval first.
in my closing...we are all still learning. America? Got a nice ring to it. USA is more formal.....we are finding our ground as water seeks its own level.....it never fails to....does it?
What am I? I am a Humanist. A Woman, a Mother, A Sister, A Daughter, a Writer, a face inthe crowd.....and all of this is America. The United States of America.
Until we stop fighting amongst ourselves regionally.....who are we? I know what and who I am.....in a new country that has accomplished amazing things.....alway will. America...yeah...sounds nice....

Answer 4

Go get out a history book and learn about Amerigo Vespucci who actually discovered the continent and that's why it is called North America. The United Stated means the 50 states. If you were born here how could you be called "I am a United States of American?

Answer 5

properly, first there grow to be the recent international. That entire element grow to be u . s . a . at the same time as all people else grow to be settling it. So it grow to be completely logical for the English to call the colonies "the yank Colonies", or only "u . s . a .." all people in England knew that they weren't speaking with regard to the Spanish or French or Dutch American colonies, so it could have been pointless for them to assert "The English American Colonies". I propose, remember returned then, there wasn't all that lots communique between countries. while the colonies grew to become a usa, they named themselves "america." And only like the English, they in many circumstances only called themselves "u . s . a .." The call caught. in line with probability "america" is a tad bit uncreative, yet I think of that they liked to maintain that u . s . a . be conscious around via fact lots patriotism grow to be caught to it. So for the main section, no, i does no longer call it conceited. there's a tiny sure: as quickly as upon a time many individuals did have self belief that they've been destined to possess the full freakin' continent. the result being a lot of fights with the interior of sight people, and that entire element with Lewis and Clark going forward and claiming some land that already belonged to the Spanish. i'm happy to assert that we are over that now.

Answer 6

Because most Americans are arrogant and often don't know any better: they barely know that there are other countries in North America; why bother to acknowledge Central and South America.

I can't believe how many Americans I met that think that Canada is just another state, or did not even know there is another country north of the 48 contiguous states.

I live in the south, of course I would expect ppl from northern states to know better.

Answer 7

I am Mexcian, and I am American because I live in America. Like Spanish, French, Italian, German, etc are European because they live in Europe. All the people that live in this continent is American.

Answer 8

The United States of America is part of North America. Hence being called "America". PLUS the USA is one of the LARGEST world LEADERS!

Answer 9

United States is too long and The USA is the only real "important" country in America. And also i dont think any other country e.g. the mexicans would want to be called American bcos nearly every1 hates it

Answer 10

Mexicans do not consider themselves americans.
They want americans to become mexicans if not by country, at least by customs & languates.

now, I presume u mean North American, which is different deal.