Why do People from the USA think that they are the only americans? America is a continent not a country?

Question

everybody from Argentina to Alaska are americans.

The reason i ask, is because i'm a mexican, Mexico is located in a continent called America, therefore i'm an american, when i travel in europe or asia i'm considered to belong to american culture becasue i belong there, i'm an american.


* There is not such a thing as Northamerican continent and southamerican continent, the whole thing is one continent America.

*In spanish a person that belongs the the USA is known as Estadounidense.

Some people in yahoo answers tell me that i'm not an american, they are wrong.

I DO NOT LIVE IN THE USA, I DO NOT WISH TO LIVE IN THE USA.

THIS INFORMATION ABOUT 3 CONTINENTS IN AMERICA IS NEWS TO ME, I WILL CHECK IF OTHER COUNTRIES DO THINK LIKE THAT.

JUST BECAUSE I SPEAK ENGLISH DOESN'T MEAN THAT I LIVE THERE.

MEXICO IS CALLED ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS, AND IS VERY BAD, THEY COPIED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND SINCE IN THE BEGINING SAID
"CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" THEY JUST CHANGED IT FOR MEXICO, YES VERY PATHETIC, I KNOW.

SOME ESTADOUNIDENSES ARE VERY PARANOID THOUGH, WHEN I'M CALLED AMERICAN, BELIVE ME, I DO NOT FEEL LIKE EATING APPLE PIE AND BUYING MY SELF AN SUV, I FEEL MEXICAN, CAUSE I'M MEXICAN, PROBABLY A TYPE OF MEXICAN THAT YOU NEVER HAVE MET, I DO NOT NEED TO WORK AT A CORNER DELI IN NYC, OR THE ORANGE FIELDS IN FLORIDA OR A FACTORY SOMEWHERE IN " THE STATES WE FLY ABOVE" ( QUOTE FROM ANDY RICHTER, I DISAGREE, HE HE )

to nazi lover:
when exactly do you think i spit on USA?
and the toilet is must probably located inside your brain.

Answer 1

There are other countries within the "America's" and by definition all people living in North, Central and South America are "American's". But the reason the citizens of the United States are called "American's" comes from that fact that we are called the "United States of America".

For example, citizens of Mexico are called Mexicans. Citizens of Costa Rica are called Costa Ricans. Citizens of Chile are called Chileans. Other countries have a more identifying name than we in the United States do.

What shall we call ourselves? United Statians? USA-ites? What else shall you call someone from a country whose name means nothing more than several sovereign States United for a common purpose? So we are called "America's" simple because there is nothing else you could call us. I suppose we could say North Americans but then that would include Mexico and Canada. So the problem is more or less semantics and not an ego or pride thing.

Answer 2

It is a shortened version of United States of America. We also call Washington, District of Columbia Washington or just DC for short. Washington also happens to be a state.

It is not some racist, egotistical thing, it is just an easier roll off the tongue and has become a worldwide phenomenon. For instance, people in Europe don't call me a United Statian? They call me American.

I apologize for the rude responses you are getting. . .but really I just think because in English, United States of America is too long and America is an easy way to shorten it.

Interesting point about someone calling you American overseas being from Mexico. I've never heard anyone call a Canadian anywhere in the world an American. Perhaps people feel Mexico is much more integrated into our culture in the US??

Answer 3

All of this confusion obviously stems from the differences in how we define continents.

You said:
"There is not such a thing as Northamerican continent and southamerican continent, the whole thing is one continent America."

Your area may see it as one continent, but many others see it as two. From wikipedia (in my sources):

"North America and South America are now treated as separate continents in much of Western Europe, China, and most native English-speaking countries. However in earlier times they were viewed as a single continent known as America or, to avoid ambiguity with the United States of America, as the Americas. They are viewed as a single continent, one of six in total, in Iberia, Italy, some other parts of Europe, and much of Latin America."

You have to realize the cultural differences that exist. In your language and culture you may be considered an american, but in other cultures you are considered "north american." Check my sources for a list of countries that are considered north american.

I also want to go over the term "United Statien."

You said:
"In spanish a person that belongs the the USA is known as Estadounidense."

This makes sense since, in your culture, you consider "America" to be one continent. But it's also important to note that your nation is called United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), right? That is why you are called "Mexican." Our nation is called the "United States of America" (Estados Unidos de América), therefore we are called "American."

Answer 4

You are right, of course. But if all the world knows the citizens of the United States of America as Americans, why would you want to be known as an American. Let them have their way with words. Being known as a Mexican is much better than being known as an American these days.

Answer 5

It is mostly a habit of our local language. When the country was formed as it is now, it was called the United States of America, so we call ourselves Americans because of that, just as there are Mexicans, Columbians, Brazilians etc. You are correct that we are all part of the Americas, and therefore are all Americans, but, that is not how we are using the term.

Answer 6

This is the one of the most nonsensical "argument I have ever heard.In Mexico you do not call yourselves Americans .You call yourselves Mexicans.Self explanatory.North America is a Continent The United States Of America is the country.and you are so sadly mistaken.When I travel abroad I am an American from Arizona.To the world we are Americans.Stop trying to change things to suit some strange idea that you have.You are Mexican from Mexico that is on the Continent of North America.

Answer 7

Many people confuse the continent of America with the citizenship of their peoples and the country in which they live..

It is the Continent of America which contains Canada and it's territories, the United States which is made up of 50 separate identities joined together and referred to as "the United States - of America".. The American continent also contains the country of Mexico and the countries in "Central and South America". Historically, this part of the hemisphere is referred to as "the Americas".

If you say you are American, you are saying you are from the Continent of America and all those who live there are entitled to call themselves "American".

We in the United States have taken it upon ourselves to declare that "American" means only being from the United States and that is not correct. Brazilians are Americans from Brazil, Mexicans are Americans from Mexico - and on and on.

Answer 8

They call people from their countrys usually.. Like Canadians, Mexicans, Americans. Our country is called: The United States of America, so we are called Americans.

Answer 9

Actually, the United States is the country, in North America, there also exists Central and South America, so for those who answered rudely, your ignorance is showing. Also, North and South America last I checked are two separate continents.

Answer 10

Is not truth I am an USA citizen and I always I am a US citizen...And I hear that before but is just a say Americans are are all the ones that born, North America, Central America and South America...Everybody does know that...So you hear yes that people say I am an American and yes they are Americans call yourself how you like it but if you are a Mexican and is going to fill out an application of work and you are not an US of America citizen, you can't say yes..That is agains the law...A illegal person once try the to say to me once and it was funny because I give it the same answer..He got deported to Mexico...