Thread: Why are they called Americans?

Hi folks.
It's simple really. Had to skip to the end, sorry if I jumped over someone already posting this, but the U.S. is not simply "The United States" but it is the ONLY nation (so far) claiming "America" as its name. The United States of America that's all. Of course there are plenty of nations on the American continents, but as those nations did not choose to call themselves "America" as did USA, they are referred to by their national identities as are we. Europeans are the same. The nations aren't [officially] simply "UK" or "Poland" for instance, they all have longer official titles, starting with "Democratic Republic of.." or some such. If we go back a few years "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" (USSR-or CCCP depending...) citizens were referred to as "Soviets", not "Republicans".....
Incidentally, Mexico is a "United States" or "Estados Unidos" if you will also...but we call THEM "Mexicans" because they are the United States of Mexico. I'm sure if in the days we were the "American Colonies" if Spain had named their various States and Provinces "America" instead of "Mexico", then the "Americans" would be there, instead...
Other nations have other names. In the U.S. "America" is it. The colonies and the continents were named after the same man. It follows that the name just stayed along as the official name of our country.
Anyway....

John P.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Copied and pasted, Mr. Impaler! Now at least I understand why you're all wet

Yup, but you copied me quoting someone else....so yes...you DID misquote me

Guess you're the wet one here

Originally Posted by JohnP

Hi folks.
It's simple really. Had to skip to the end, sorry if I jumped over someone already posting this, but the U.S. is not simply "The United States" but it is the ONLY nation (so far) claiming "America" as its name. The United States of America that's all. Of course there are plenty of nations on the American continents, but as those nations did not choose to call themselves "America" as did USA, they are referred to by their national identities as are we. Europeans are the same. The nations aren't [officially] simply "UK" or "Poland" for instance, they all have longer official titles, starting with "Democratic Republic of.." or some such. If we go back a few years "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" (USSR-or CCCP depending...) citizens were referred to as "Soviets", not "Republicans".....
Incidentally, Mexico is a "United States" or "Estados Unidos" if you will also...but we call THEM "Mexicans" because they are the United States of Mexico. I'm sure if in the days we were the "American Colonies" if Spain had named their various States and Provinces "America" instead of "Mexico", then the "Americans" would be there, instead...
Other nations have other names. In the U.S. "America" is it. The colonies and the continents were named after the same man. It follows that the name just stayed along as the official name of our country.
Anyway....

John P.

This has already been said Read the whole thread its interesting

Democratic Republic of the united Kingdom...... hmmmm.....

What is Poland's 'official long title'?

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Yup, but you copied me quoting someone else....so yes...you DID misquote me

Guess you're the wet one here

You make my chin itchy

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

What is Poland's 'official long title'?

It's "Republic of Poland"

Is it really? Well you learn something new every day dont you.

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

This has already been said Read the whole thread its interesting

Democratic Republic of the united Kingdom...... hmmmm.....

What is Poland's 'official long title'?

Sorry....I'm not home so reading long threads is something I try to keep to a minimum.

I'm sure the whole thread is great. I'll find out when I'm home on my own computer. So living in the UK would you be a "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandian"?????
If that is still the official state name.
Basically I was pointing out that we are the only nation actually NAMED "America". No doubt it has already been pointed out to you multiple times in the posts in the middle, I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget....


John P.

No probs

I presume Irelandian is a typo of sorts. I've never heard of it. Northern Ireland yes. As for the long and garbled title I have never heard it used. United States of America; yes all the time. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? No, never. United Kingdom? Yes. Great Britain? Yes. Northern Ireland? Of course.

Wiki disagrees with me apparently, and poona would probably also do the same. Sorry poona

Facts you may or may not know about the United States of America (lifted shamelessly from wikipedia)

1. The US of A comprises 50 states and 1 federal district.
2. It has no official language at federal level though English is the National language (de facto).
3. Whilst it is *mostly* in the continent of North America, Hawaii and Alaska are not.
4. It is NOT the biggest by any manner of means. It is the third biggest by land area and third biggest by population.
5. It is however the largest national economy in the world. Ka-ching!
6. The US of A is the worlds only remaining true superpower, accounting for 50% of global military spending. Shame!
7. In 1914 at the outbreak of WW1 the USA remained as neutral as Switzerland. Back then they didnt want to get involved with foreign wars. In 1917 however they changed their minds and joined the Allies, turning the tide of the war. (Thanks for that )
8. New York City has more than double the population of the next biggest city (Los Angeles). NY has 8.5m, whilst LA has 3.8m.
9. Alexander Graham Bell got the first American patent- for the telephone. AGB was Scottish, by the way

and finally...

10. Whilst the USA are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol (signed by guess who- Al Gore on Nov 12th 1998), they have neither ratified nor withdrawn from it. As of 2005, the USA was the single biggest emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.

As a PS I highly recommend you read that wiki article on the Kyoto protocol- its a fine read.

Kyoto Protocol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now fire in and discuss these facts.

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

Now fire in and discuss these facts.

Please excuse my ignorance - what continent is Alaska in?