Why does the U.S. call itself America??? Tha bothers me cause it's the whole continent!!!?

Question

Yes I am an "American" since I am a citizen and whatever. But I am also a Salvadorian citizen since I was born there!!! So it seems selfish for the U.S. to call itself "America" cause it's basically saying "Oh we're the best of the continent!" So will someone explain it to me please.

Answer 1

We had racist ancestors and thought their country was the most important country in the Americas and everyother country did not matter

Answer 2

Because this country doesn't have a real name. I would suggest naming it "Washingtonland". Sounds better, it's unique, and honors their greatest president.

Answer 3

Citizens of "The United States of Mexico" (Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos) are called Mexicans. Citizens of The United States of America are called AMERICANS. I am aware of North America, Central America and South America. There is no continent called "America". Why lie?

Answer 4

because it's easier than United Statesian

Answer 5

It's just for short, it's easier and every body is used to it. In Spanish we call them  "estadounidenses" which basically means United Stater.

Answer 6

No other country uses the name America. We call ourselves what we wish and have since 1776. United states of America. America for short.

Answer 7

Americans call themselves that because it is easier to say than the alternatives- "United States of America Citizens" or even "US of A -ian". In everyday speech leaving out unneeded words actually helps communication because you can speak faster and more efficiently.

It is no more saying we are 'the best of the continent' than referring to USA as simply "United States" is saying we are the best of any country made up of united states. It is simply a way of making speech more fluid and ultimately better understood.

Answer 8

There is no continent called America.

There's North America, and South America.

Answer 9

You actually have met some Americans, right?

That's basically what most of us do, is constantly proclaim how freakin' awesome we are.  Its rather ingrained into us from childhood and reinforced throughout our adulthood.  

Calling ourselves (and only ourselves) American is part of that reinforcement.  

C'est la vie.  And pass the freedom fries, thank you.

Answer 10

That's just the way it is, and if it bothers you, too bad. I doubt anyone cares. Deal with it.

Answer 11

I agree with you. I am a US citizen and that means the portion of the North American continent that comprises the United States of America and its territories and Hawaii. It by no means encompasses ALL of the Americas!

Answer 12

I hope this helps. I guess the name just stuck in North America more so than South America..... Read on...Waldseemuller is generally credited with having invented the word "America".

South America and North America were named after Amerigo Vespucci in 1507. Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer who was the first person to realize that the Americas were completely separate from Asia, when he mapped the eastern coast of South America in 1502. A German mapmaker named Martin Waldseemuller was the first person to print a map that used the name "America" for the New World. Waldseemuller only used the word "America" for South America. The name became popular throughout Europe. In 1538, Gerardus Mercator was the first person to make a map that included both the names "North America" and "South America" in it.

The map is sometimes referred to as the Birth certificate of America. The 1507 map is actually a dozen different wood-block prints pieced together, with South America marked "America" in the general vicinity of Brazil, and an attenuated North America bearing the legend "Terra Ulteri' Incognita." The sections were bound in a book along with a 12-section sea chart from 1516 and "gores" of the globe (the illustrated skins that were stretched over a sphere).

Answer 13

Well, you answered your own question

There is nothing else to explain . They are convinced that they purchased the name of the continent for their own personal use

To craig

Many people care, for your information

Answer 14

we call ourselves the United States of America, because if you would look at a map you would realize that other than Hawaii which is not part of the North American Continent, the other 49 are hence the United States of America. we're not the United States of Europe,Asia,Africa,Australia,or Antarctica.If the English would have landed on the coast of Brazil maybe we would be on the South American Continent, but we would still be America. What is stopping the Country of El Salvador from calling its self El Salvador of America?

Answer 15

They are too lazy to say the whole United States of America so they just say America. I agree with you so I call them United Statesians, not Americans. Everyone is North America and South America and Central America is an American.

Answer 16

Canadians, Mexicans and the South & Central America countries don't call themselves Americans.