I think lots of people understand the difference, but saying just 'America' is way easier than saying the United States. Then I think it really just became a slang term. But if someone says something about 'the Americas' most people realize your talking about the continental masses
THANK YOU! Seriously, if what they want is to shorten the name, they could just say "the US", no need to mess everything up by using the continent's name
This doesn't really have a lot to do, but the more you know... just as latin america is the region where romantic languages are spoken, the three countries that aren't in it (canada, U.S. and the french antilles {is it said like that?}) form the anglosaxon america, because they speak languages with origins on the anglosaxons (or very influenced by them)
I don't know the reason french speaking countries are counted as part of the anglosaxon region, but they are... perhaps french was very influenced by the anglosaxons?
So....what exactly do you call somebody from the country of "the United States of America" then if you don't call them American? I'm not talking about what do you call the country as its been shown that can be many things (USA, the states, US, United States, United States of America), but what do you call the people from said country (excluding of course derogatory terms). Because everywhere I've gone, people have referred to people from the USA as Americans.
Also, to everybody saying "North America isn't a continent, its the Americas" you do realize that depending on what country you are in, you are taught the continents differently right? Just about the only people that are taught "the Americas" are one continent, are people from Latin America and a few countries in Europe. Most of the population is taught that North America and South America are 2 different continents (As in most of China, India, Australia, England, Eastern Europe, Japan, Russia, and the US. Some of those call Europe and Asia Eurasia, but they still separate the Americas)
And to clear up some of the confusion people seem to be having for how some people started shortening United States of America to just America, it wasn't to just shorten United States of America, as USA or US would be shorter and easier. It was because the people FROM the US, as I said above, are called AMERICANS. Somebody (and ya, it probably started with a dumb American) went through the thought process of "well Canadians are from Canada, Mexicans from Mexico, English from England, etc. Since I'm American, I can probably just say I'm from America and be fine" and the word stuck because it sounded better than some abbreviation of letters and they didn't realize or think about the fact that there is a whole other continent that's also "America".
Actually, it didnt start like that... It started with that f*ggot president Monroe stating that thats how it should be. You know the "america for americans" thing or something like that. You can take it to exclude europeans from trading with the americas but, you can also read it as "we, people from USA have power all over america, thats why WE are americans and are gonna participate in any war/trade/whateverwewant" king of thing...
wow i had trouble understanding this back as a child born in an asian country. nobody actually told me this properly that is,until i went into the internet
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· 10 years ago
The reason we are referred to as America is because it's shortened from "The United States of America". If you call us the U.S.A I know of no term for that such as a USian. Also if you refer to yourself as American people will know you're from the U.S, because I know very few people who use the name of their continent instead of country. "Where are you from?" I'm from Asia." Would not make as much sense as saying the country you are from.
Don't worry, they have a word for Mexicans too....more than one actually...but somehow they are all more offensive since its not directed towards white males.
Well, Mexico is really called the United States of Mexico, isn't it? Similar to how we in USA are. But people tend to call United States of Mexico, Mexico. Can't we do that to America, USA, in this instance? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but for now, as an American, or USAian, this is my argument.
But sometimes, it's not about the actual name because language is so different around the world, sometimes it's easier to just say America or US or USA in their language. So name it whatever you want USA or America. It doesn't necessarily matter, as long as your getting your point across.
(EDIT) I noticed they called US, United Estates. I'm just going to assume that that was a spelling error but please correct me if I'm wrong.
Its official name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United States Mexicans), however it has other name like República Mexicana (Mexican Republic) either way there is no such thing as Mexico per se in its name, so I don't see the relation with the other name.
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· 10 years ago
THANK YOU! Its about time someone showed the world that its america! Its UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA OF AMERICA, united states is not just "America"
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· 10 years ago
Its true for the two ppl who disliked that comment
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· 10 years ago
I'm sorry but whoever is posting as "guest" is an ass, I know your trying to make a point but your being kinda rude about it
First of all, it's *two* continents. Second, united states citizens are from the united states *of america*; what do you want us to call ourselves? United Statesians?
Actually yeah, you are ignorant because you don't have enough initiative to go a check if everyting that is taught at school is correct or not. And I still don't know why these idiots teach that America is two continents. Maybe is because they separated it in two ground masses making a canal in Panama or what. If that's the reason that's just stupid and have no valid argument.
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· 10 years ago
It is not stupid - there are several teaching models, including the seven-continent model (Africa; Europe; Asia; North America; South America; Antarctica; Australia) and the six-continent model (Africa; Europe; Asia; America; Antarctica; Australia). One system just groups the Americas, while the other separates them (as they have valid reasons to do).
Different models are taught in different places. You're the ignorant one, blindly rejecting other interpretations of information (in this case land placement) simply because it is not your own interpretation.
Because I can not for the life of me figure out why it matters whether we think it's one or two continents, and why it's necessary to be called ignorant because of it. It's a land mass. It's in an ocean. It's on a globe. We can't change it. So I don't understand why it's such a necessity to argue who's right and who's wrong!
I guess, you are right, people who learn that don't have to be idiots, but I really believe that those who, from the beginning couldn't decide by consensus, how many continents are, those people are the idiots here. That could make the life of everybody easier by just a littlebit but easier after all.
So....I'm gonna guess that you are from somewhere in Latin America, since thats the largest portion of people that consider "The Americas" to be just 1 continent. Considering the majority of the world (note its not just the US) DOES consider them separate continents, I believe you are right, it IS extremely ignorant to just assume what you were taught is right and not look it up for yourself. Why shouldn't they be separate? Because they are barely connected? If thats the case, why isn't Europe and Asia one continent in your mind (which it is taught in some countries, its called Eurasia)? Because its only separated by a man made canal? If thats the case, why isn't Africa also considered part of the Eurasia continent?
"Considering the majority of the world (note its not just the US) DOES consider them separate continents" if you mean mayority of the world the ex USSR and Japan besides the US then yeah is the mayority of the world. BTW, the IOC uses the 5 continent model.
The 7 continent model is usually taught in China (1.35 billion people), India (1.23 Billion), parts of Western Europe(tough to estimate), Australia (22.6 million), and the US (314 million).
The 6 continent Eurasia model (separates the Americas still) is usually taught in Eastern Europe (tough to estimate), Japan (127.6 million), and Russia(143.5 million).
Low estimate from just counting the numbers above and not including all the smaller countries that teach it too is at least 3.187 BILLION people being taught the Americas are separate continents.
Now lets take a look at those who teach the 6 continent combined Americas model:
Most of Latin America ~600 million.
A select few countries in Europe - too hard to estimate.
High estimate of maybe 1 Billion people (being very generous).
Yes, I'd say the majority are taught they are separate.
And you still haven't answered my questions on why they should be combined while Asia, Africa, and Europe are all separated either.
Asia and Europe aren't separated by water at all, and Asia and Africa are separated by a much longer canal than Panama's (As in if the canal wasn't made, it would be a much wider landmass connection), so why do they get to be distinguished as separate continents and the Americas are just lumped together?
In one of the models of continetal separation Europe, Asia and Africa are one continent (Eurafrasia) so as I mentioned before all this stupid problem is because those who are supose to make a deal about how it is going to be for everyone just keep doing it wrong and we have many models about land masses when we could have just one (whichever) but I guess is too much to ask, same as measurement systems.
America is the Eastern Hemisphere, as it is east of the Prime Meridian. North America and South America are continents. Calling citizens of the United States of America, Americans is like calling citizens of England, Europeans. Its true, just not very specific. However, the term "American" is associated with citizens of the USA, end of story.
As some might consider it incorrect, think of it this way, correct me if I'm wrong, but we are the only ones with "America" in the country's name. So I don't see the problem with calling us Americans
If you're from Canada Canadian if you're from Mexico you're Mexican, Nicaragua Nicaraguan and so on. Our country is united states of America, instead of saying the whole thing we say American. Stop being butt hurt over this. I'm American, deal with it
But sometimes, it's not about the actual name because language is so different around the world, sometimes it's easier to just say America or US or USA in their language. So name it whatever you want USA or America. It doesn't necessarily matter, as long as your getting your point across.
(EDIT) I noticed they called US, United Estates. I'm just going to assume that that was a spelling error but please correct me if I'm wrong.
Different models are taught in different places. You're the ignorant one, blindly rejecting other interpretations of information (in this case land placement) simply because it is not your own interpretation.
The 6 continent Eurasia model (separates the Americas still) is usually taught in Eastern Europe (tough to estimate), Japan (127.6 million), and Russia(143.5 million).
Low estimate from just counting the numbers above and not including all the smaller countries that teach it too is at least 3.187 BILLION people being taught the Americas are separate continents.
Now lets take a look at those who teach the 6 continent combined Americas model:
Most of Latin America ~600 million.
A select few countries in Europe - too hard to estimate.
High estimate of maybe 1 Billion people (being very generous).
Yes, I'd say the majority are taught they are separate.
Asia and Europe aren't separated by water at all, and Asia and Africa are separated by a much longer canal than Panama's (As in if the canal wasn't made, it would be a much wider landmass connection), so why do they get to be distinguished as separate continents and the Americas are just lumped together?