And why do people in the US are called "Americans" when there are millions of other people living in America?

Question

What about people from Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, French Guyana, Venezuela, Brasil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Canada, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guayana, Surinam, Costa Rica.... aren't they ALL AMERICANS TOO??????????

Answer 1

America is short for "The United States of America"

and in most cases does not apply to the people living in "The Americas"

But technically Yes they are ALL Americans.
But i don't know if they want to call themselves that right now ;)

Answer 2

People who are citizens of the United States of AMERICA are called Americans. We are called American's because the name of our country is The United States of AMERICA. If there were a republic/united states/democratica of South America, then there would be something to argue about.

You could use a general term to describe people of North America or a general term to describe people of South America. However, Most people from around the world would like to be associated with thier country of citizenry. Therefor someone from Canada would prefer to be called Canadian.

To be completely blanket about naming conventions, it might be more correct to be called USAdians, but it was the leaders of other countries that began calling us Americans so take it up with them... Oh wait, you can't, they're dead.

And what exactly is your point in asking this question? Are you trying to make some kind of political statement about we are all equal and everyone should be the same?? Well, if everyone is equal, then why is the USA still supporting half the world through charities? If everyone is as good as Americans, then why does the rest of the world suck so bad?

Answer 3

Never attended school, eh? Americans are those BORN here in this US of A, you dolt! You should be embarrassed to even having asked such a dim-witted question. Id ask if you burned out brain cells over the years, but you dont look old enough to have experienced any adverse side effects from recreational drug use. You better think long and hard about registering for school..I think its required in most states. Why do some people knowingly insult their own intelligence?

Answer 4

Should we be called united stateans??

I do see many people are misunderstanding your question. I think because you are using the word America to refer to the entire land that makes up what americans call north and south america. You see we consider north and south america two different continents not one.
And YES people, many countries across the world consider it to be ONE CONTINENT. As a matter of fact most do and don't consider antarctica as one at all. She isn't talking about people from other countries who are in USA but other ppl who live on the continent of america as defined by many other countries and peoples around the world.

Answer 5

If you study the world history you will find the answer.America was named after the Italian discoverer "AMERIGO Vespuchi" discovered the country.Earlier they thought this was India.It was later Amerigo who discovered that the country was not India. So this country was named America and the people who live there were called as American.

Except for the native Americans who are called Red Indians all others are settlers.

Answer 6

Nope.
The reason why is because we here in the U.S. and everyone else in the America's have sort of unoficially agreed to call us American's. The people from Mexico by choice call themselves Mexicans, the people from Canada by choice call themselves Canadians, the people from Colombia by choice call themselves Colombians.
Here in the United States we have people from all over the America's and so we call ourselves American's. To bring this up in resentment shows a lack of understanding and a hint of an anti-U.S. sentiment.

Answer 7

No, they're Bolivians, Peruvians, Mexicans, Guatemalans, French Guyanese, Venezuelans, Brazilians, Surinamese, Costa Ricans -- those are all individual countries IN South America.

Answer 8

Because America is the great melting pot. Originally people came here to become a part of something wonderful and special...It is all of this separatism that creates problems.
My ancestors came from Ireland, Sweden, and Germany, we have been proud Americans since the 1800's.
People came here from everywhere to escape lack of freedom, extreme poverty, and domination of facist governments. For a better place to raise their children.
People who are US citizens are Americans regardless of where they come from.

Answer 9

If we were using our continents to identify ourselves, yes.
But people are identified by their nationality, not by their continent.
Is a Mexican an American?
Yes, just like a German is European.
Spaniards, French, Italian, Polish, Swede...all Europeans.

Nationality = Nation
(Besides, North and South America are two different continents.)

Answer 10

Yes they are all Americans...if they are legally here with a green card or have become citizens of the US. Most choose to keep their ethicity by calling themselves Afro-Americans, Oriental Americans, etc. If they are not here legally, they are not Americans and should be sent back to where they came from because they cause huge money problems in our country.