What"s the deal with these damn Americans?

Question

I"m a citizen of the U.S. Why are U.S. citizens only refered to as Americans? Mexico ,U.S.,and Canada,all share North America. Are we not "fellow Americans"?

Answer 1

No. Mexico has Mexicans, Canada has Canadians, America has Americans. This rather makes sense, don't you think?

Answer 2

That's an histoical question really. The United States was the first independent nation in North or South America, as in the first colony to break from it's European mother country. The British were calling thier colonies "American's" long before the US gained independence. While Spanish, French, Russian and other countires did not refer to thier colonies as such.It just kind of stuck. Technically everyone in the America's would be "American's", but name's stick.

Answer 3

We aren't only referred to as Americans, but when we are called Americans it's because it's short for the name of our country which is the United States of America. What would you rather be referred to as?

Answer 4

Absolutely, but most Canadians would rather die than be called an American. That's they sport their flag when abroad.Most foreigners can't tell the difference. And...who really cares? I was born in Canada and have lived in the U.S. for ages. I'm a North American and damn proud of it.

Answer 5

What about South America. Same thing applies. I don't think the other countries care that we call ourselves "Americans." They probably laugh at us for not having something original.

It all goes back to the fact that technically, we are "united states." The states (which would have been looked at almost as small countries by themselves) joined together for protection, etc. etc. (read the declaration of Independance for that story)

So in theory, the state you live in is what you should refer to yourself as...Californian, Texan, Virginian, etc. People have forgotten that the founding of our country was supposed to allow the individual states to retain as much independance as possilbe, not to just be another part of a large country under the rule of a king or president.

Answer 6

"...Are we not "fellow Americans"?" -- No and here's why,
Canada does NOT have "of America" in it's name.
The United States of America is where the states are.
Mexico also does NOT have the phrase "of America" in it's name. They are the United Mexican States; Estados Unidos Mexicanos in spanish. So of the three countries we the USA have the phrase "of America" as PART of the written and world wide accepted name of our country.
I had this conversation with my wife (Costa Rican), and it is old now. Luckily she was kidding - your not! .
I was NOT present when the name was picked - but how is it wrong in any way? The united states are located in America, starting from the original thirteen - expanding to the 50 we have today.

Answer 7

Yes. Canadians and Latin-Americans are Americans, too. How terrible of us to keep forgetting. Sorry.

Answer 8

i guess