Why is it called the United States of America...?

Question

when the United States only constitutes part of America?

Just to be clear - people say "America", when they mean the United States - but America is surely North, Central and South America. The official title of Mexico is "the United States of the Republic of Mexico", but their "United States" as a title stays within the bounds of their own country.

Is it supposed to be "the United States of part of America"... or is there another reason for assuming an exclusive right to the whole continent?

This came about as a result of a message I got from a Canadian:

"I do wish we could get you folks in Britain to stop referring to the United States as "America". It's a little like us referring to Germany or France alone as "Europe", and expecting the rest of you to come up with some other collective name for yourselves. When Columbus 'discovered' America, he landed in the Bahamas, not Manhattan."

Answer 1

well America is the Continent, so techically the naming of the country as America. is inaccurate.
I'd supose they named what they had found, beacuse in the 16-1700 only small portions of the americas were descovered.

Answer 2

A state is a sovereign entity. we are the USA because of the fact the states are united under ONE shape. under this shape each and every state is certain a republican(representative ) sort of government. States could have different rules yet those rules can't violate the federal regulation. each and every state can deliver Representatives and Senators and has the appropriate to paricipate in Presidential elections. The rules that the legislature passes, the excellent courtroom rules on and the President executes prepare to ALL 50 states so we are united. examine the form for extra clarification.

Answer 3

The continent is called North America. The United States of America is the name of one of the countries that makes up this continent.

Answer 4

Because the 50 states joined together to make up the USA,the other countries within the continents of North and South America did not join them so they could be described as the non united states of the Americas

Answer 5

Why not? Why are some people called Mr. Green, when they are not green at all? It is normal to say "Tom Jones of New York", without meaning that Tom Jones is the only person in New York, or that he owns or represents all of New York.

Back in 1776, there were no other "United States" in the Americas. The "United States of Colombia" was the name held by Colombia between 1863 and 1886. The "Republic of the United States of Brazil" was the name of Brazil between 1889 and 1968. The "United States of Venezuela" was from 1864 to 1953.

Answer 6

Actually the United States of America only constitutes a portion of the north american continent not a part of America. The fore fathers of this country chose this name.

Answer 7

You could call the US several small countries with their own government and laws under an umbrella of the federal government with its federal laws. The word state means the same as country. You could say the "United Countries of America". The European Union is trying to do something very similar. They have their own currency- the Euro. I've always wonered why the call the US "America" and the people that live here "Americans". Really if you think about it, everyone in North and South America live in "America" and we are all "Americans".

Answer 8

It is called that, because the states in your little part of America, united into one country.

Answer 9

That refers to 50 states that have been united under one Constitution. Canada is divided into Provinces. South America is divided into individual countries. The designation U.S.A. works.

Answer 10

There are 50 states total and we are all united as one country.