Why does the USA call itself 'America'?

Question

The USA is only a small part of America but seems to have hijacked the name for itself, much to the chagrin of Canada and of the countries to the south. And why does it call 'appropriated' places like Hawaii (which are nowhere near) 'America'?

Your thoughts please?

Answer 1

Because we Canadians do not want to be called Americans (bad rap, and besides, other countries happen to like Canadians, so why spoil that by calling ourselves Americans).

I think they picked America because they are the US of A. (well if we really wanted to get technical they should be the USNA -United States of North America- since there is a South America too)

So let the US call themselves Americans if they wish. They've been called that for so long now that it would be troublesome to change there name (it's like calling a boy George all his life, and then when he's thirty-two start calling him Fred).

Answer 2

I know that the United States of America is not the only America (as there are plenty of other countries on the two continents collectively known as America), but it is also equally true that the United States of America is not the only United States (Mexico's official name is Estados Unidos de Mexico, or the United States of Mexico, and some say that there will soon be a United States of Europe). So, I guess people will need to start learning to say the entire name, United States of America, just for precision (or else maybe people can just be irritated by the use of 'shorthand' names). .

Answer 3

If you look at the names of all the countries in North and South America, the U.S.A. is the only one that actually has "America" in the title. Thus, we are perfectly justified in calling our country America, the United States, the U.S., or U.S.A. I doubt that someone from Canada or Brazil would want to call their country "America"...because that wouldn't make sense.

Besides..."America" sounds much better than "United States".

If people in other countries of North or South America want to call themselves or their country "Americans" or "America" (respectively), I don't really care. I don't watch their stations anyway.

Answer 4

It is because the east coast was called "The Americas" before the continent was called "North America". With that said, we have more of a right to call ourselves Americans than Canada or Mexico.

But in all thruthfulness, it's just a nickname. The United States of America is too long to say all the time, so why not shorten it? And "Americans" sounds better than "United Statesans".

Answer 5

Well, Hawaii is a state in the US, so it's considered to be a part of "America". I can understand your question, though, since the United States isn't the only country in the Americas. I sort of wonder if it's at least partly because "America" serves as a sort of abbreviation for our country's proper name, which is the United States of America. I guess calling it by its proper name all the time would be kind of exhausting, though I often simply call it "the US".

Answer 6

Well, many people call the United States of America, the United States or the US. It is simply shorthand. We choose to call ourselves Americans because the other option would be United Staters.

I do not think we have hijacked the name. If people in South America want to call themselves Americans that is fine by me.

Answer 7

For that matter it's North America. There is a South America.

But for the record, the full title is the United States of America so America, or the US or USA is used.

Answer 8

Because its called the United States of America. Its in the name of our country. Canada is Canada and Mexico is Mexico they do not use America in their country's name we do, so get over it. Besides we are the biggest baddest mothers on the face of the planet so we can call ourself what ever we want.

Answer 9

Why do Britons call themselves Britons when the region of Brittany is actually in France?

Names evolve from circumstance and history. For convenience. Out of habit.

Why does Britain call Gibraltar British when it's nowhere near Britain? Why does Denmark call Greenland Danish when it's closer to North America?

Your question smacks of argumentative provocation because you're irritated with Americans.

Answer 10

Because it is the international standard.. The French describe me as "Americain" The Italians call me an "Americano" In Japan, they stamp my documents as "America-jin" Why don't you ask them?