How is it so many Americans don't know how many states there are?

Question

Note to Rob5279:
I can't help but notice that you have changed your answer now two times. Is getting all those thumbs down starting to eat away at your confidence? I must say, this most recent answer is at least thoughtful, rather than the previous more insulting ones.

Answer 1

they are ungreatful to live in the States, i suppose

Answer 2

Judging from these answers, I'd say geography isn't the only course that's not highly valued. Except geography doesn't seem to be valued by school curricula. I suppose school officials figure there will always be a map or atlas around to look at. Spelling and grammar is what's really needed, spelling and grammar is what's disregarded by students. Dictionaries only work if you have some idea of where to find the word...but grammar, and proper grammar at that, takes a give-a-damn attitude and brains that are used for more than taking up the airspace within the skull.

And Dane, the questioner asked about states, not districts and possessions.

Answer 3

Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Marianas Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Virgin Islands
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Answer 4

I know there are 50 states and i'm not even american...! by the way there are 50 by now...but in 5 years will be 52 states (including Puerto Rico and Irak), and maybe in 10 years Venezuela will add as the 53rd State of the Union

Answer 5

Because most Americans don't live in the "United States of America." Americans live in South America, Central America, North America....

Answer 6

Our school systems have dropped the ball. They're passing children due to this whole 'no child left behind' thing. That is not to say they actually learn what it is they're supposed to in order to be passed on to the next grade.

In fact, many high school graduates don't have what it takes to get into a good university and must further their education by attending a Jr. College before a university will accept them.

Answer 7

Americans are more concerned with taking over third world countries and memorizing all the states in the Middle East that they have conquered than memorizing the lowly states in their own country. But ...that's to be expected right...the Great American dream, where I am a man as long as I have a gun...forgive the satire.

Answer 8

Right...lol. Some Americans even count Canada and Puerto Rico. Some even count England.

Answer 9

I don't know of anyone I know who doesn't know there are 50 states !!

Heck, just the other day at the bar, we had a contest to see who could write them all DOWN !! I couldn't remember New Jersey...

Answer 10

You can't imagine how many of them don't know which city is a capital NY or Washington LOL
I think that's because education system here is build that way.
You can learn only what you want and nobody teaches all subjects in schools.
Like in other country's we was studding everything about everything.

Answer 11

The American education system is shoddy. Take it from me, I am a part-time science teacher. And of all the subjects taught, physical geography is low on the importance list.