Why do we call the US America?

Bit · 02-18-2010, 04:50 PM

I think it's because people in Europe were used to calling it "America" long before there were any independent countries here, and all the other countries took different names... but since we were already being called "America," when the official name became the United States of America people just continued to use the shorter "America" out of habit.

I also think that our government over the past couple hundred years has been rather... arrogant (Manifest Destiny, anyone?)... and has probably encouraged this. Certainly in modern times our media and popular entertainment industries have encouraged it.

02-18-2010, 04:50 PM	#6
Bit Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Stonefemme Relationship Status: married to Gryph Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,177 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,126 Thanked 3,770 Times in 1,264 Posts Rep Power: 10778871	I think it's because people in Europe were used to calling it "America" long before there were any independent countries here, and all the other countries took different names... but since we were already being called "America," when the official name became the United States of America people just continued to use the shorter "America" out of habit. I also think that our government over the past couple hundred years has been rather... arrogant (Manifest Destiny, anyone?)... and has probably encouraged this. Certainly in modern times our media and popular entertainment industries have encouraged it.