Most of the world considers North America and South America to be one continent. Why doesn't the US?

Question

Europians tell me that Continents are divided by geography, not politics. Only the US considers 7 continents with Europe daying there are 5.

Why does the US, again, go against the grain of the rest of the world?

Racism? We are ALL Americans, not just the US. In fact... they are more American then we are, at least in their thinking.

Consider: EEUU v. Honduras, Central America.

Answer 1

Are you just making up reasons to bash the United States?

Like the other posters said...

If North and South America are the same continent, a better argument can be made that Europe and Asia are the same continent.

Answer 2

Oddly enough- Europeans do the same thing with Asia-
Europe and Asia are the same land mass but are considered 2 continents-
See below:
Subject: How Many Continents Are There?
Time: 10:06:00 PM EST
Author: bowermanb
Mood: Chillin'
Music: Alice Cooper


A continent can be defined as one of several major land masses on the earth. There is no standard definition for the number of continents but usually the numbers six or seven are used. By most accounts, there are a maximum of seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Most students in the U.S. are taught that there are seven continents. The National Geographic Society recognizes seven.

In Europe, many students are taught about six continents - North and South America are combined to form a single America. Therefore, the six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe. A couple of years ago, I got into a relatively headed discussion through email with a European who could not understand how North and South America could be considered two separate continents, but this person readily accepted the fact that Europe and Asia were two separate continents.

Many geographers and scientists now refer to six continents, where Europe and Asia are combined (since they're one solid landmass). Thus, these six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America. I personally like this distinction - I could never understand how you could divide Europe and Asia in the middle of a landmass. It seems to be more of a political or cultural division rather than a geographic one.

So- you tell me what difference that makes in the scheme of things-
I can't tell that calling a sow's ear a silk purse makes it one- can you?
I live in America- if you want to call South America - America go ahead but it won't change the fact that it is not America- Now will it?

Answer 3

Your statement is incorrect:

"The 7-continent model is usually taught in Western Europe, Northern Europe, Central Europe, Southeastern Europe, China and most English-speaking countries. The 6-continent combined-Eurasia model is preferred by the geographic community, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Japan. The 6-continent combined-America model is taught in Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Iran, Greece and some other parts of Europe; this model may be taught to include only the 5 inhabited continents (excluding Antarctica).[19] The 5-continent model is usually taught in the United Kingdom"

Despite popular belief, the United Kingdom is not "Most of the World"

Answer 4

North America and South American are 2 continents regardless of what the rest of the world says

Answer 5

Well because in the formation of the continents North and South America were different continents. Central America is a bridge. Geographically, there are 7 continents, because Central America isn´t big enough to be a continent on its own.

Answer 6

Europeans are not only mistaken, but a little hypocritical on that score. More land attaches Africa to Europe, and certainly more connects Europe to Asia, than connects North and South America, but if you were to call them Eurasifricans, they'd be quite upset. There are two continents, that share the name America. They can say whatever they want to, but we live here, and we know the terrain better.

Answer 7

If it is divided by geography, then North and South America would be separate. They are barely connected. Do you know how thin the isthmus of Panama is? If you count them as one continent, why not count Europe, Africa, and Asia as a single continent, so there will be only four (that one, the Americas, Australia, and Antarctica).

Answer 8

The rest of the world does not consider North American and South America to be one continent. Why do you keep making this asinine assertion with these utterly nonsensical questions?

Answer 9

You bring THIS up, and want to demonstrate that we go "against the grain" of the world? I got other things than whether Europe thinks there are 5 continents to worry about, don't you?

Answer 10

We are the only country in the two Americas that has America in our common name (common, not official). Besides, there is not much else we could be called. The US is also the dominating power in the region politically and economically. The US has been independent the longest amount of time as well.