I've always wondered why its never called the "United States of North America" Why did they leave out the "North" part out? Just something I always wondered. Maybe you guys have some insight on it.
Because clever British colonists thought of it first, and they didn't have to differentiate themselves from any other "United States" anywhere. For example Mexico is officially titled the United Mexican States.
Back then there was less emphasis on North America or South America. It was simply Spanish Territory vs. Portugese Territory vs. French Territory vs. Dutch Territory vs. British Territory. And combined they would be considered Columbia, or the "new world."
A guy named Americo Vespucci, or something like that, was the first to map most of North America. So that's where the America comes from...The United States part should be kind of obvious.
well they took the name america from Amerigo Vespucci...so theres the america part as justinnotjason said....and the 13 states at the time were united against the british (and the french helped)....and im guessing at the time, we didnt know about south america and mexico...so there really wasnt a north or south america.....
He mapped most of North and South America as I remember it so they named both after him. And since Mexico is part of North America, it really doesn't need an excuse lol.
" A guy named Americo Vespucci, or something like that, was the first to map most of North America. So that's where the America comes from...The United States part should be kind of obvious.EDIT:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerigo_Vespucci "
There is some evidence to suggest that the continents were actually named after a Welsh businessman named Richard Americ who funded settlements in the New World by explorer John Cabot. Cabot is credited as the first European to discover and explore the North American mainland. I think it's possible to suggest that English settlements in North America would use English produced maps based off a John Cabot's findings who was employed by the English instead of Vespucci's Italian design. Of course, Cabot was actually Italian as well. So, no one can really say for certain.
"@gingertastic_10: He mapped most of North and South America as I remember it so they named both after him. And since Mexico is part of North America, it really doesn't need an excuse lol. But yeah this is a 5th grade history question lol"
puerto rico may eventually become a state in the future, they are located in central america, therefore they wouldnt be allowed in if it was "united states of north america"
edit: @Keyser_Soze if you hate the US so much why are you even here? this site is created and run by americans...
Because we had 13 colonies that were united (to an extent) before becoming a country. Our land was named after Americo Vespucci and when then colonies united we became the "United States of America." There ya go.
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