[Monica-L]

America is a big continent with many different countries from Canada to Argentina. Why do people from the United States refer to their country as ‘America’ when ‘America’ is the whole continent. However, I heard that in US schools they teach that there are two continents (North and South) and not one as originally declared by Martín Waldseemüller in 1507. Whatever … why do people from the US say they are American when they are from the United States? When asked, I say I’m Venezuelan, not American, even though I am American technically speaking.

User Detail :  

Name : Monica-L, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Jewish, Age : 13, City : Caracas, State : NA, Country : Venezuela, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[ShirleyAvery]

Sadly, we U.S. Americans don’t get much education in geography, though, you’re right, we’ve certainly learned of South America as distinct from North America. Too many of us are ethnocentric, but also, I belive we think of South America, not as one united whole like the U.S., but as a group of separate countries, each ruled separately, e.g., – Peru, Brazil, Colombia, etc. Am I correct that each is governed separately? Just Curious

User Detail :  

Name : ShirleyAvery, Gender : F, Disability : none, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : st. louis, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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