The continent of North America is a combination of 3 independent countries. One country has the largest land mass, Canada, one country has the largest economy, the US, and the 3rd country is the smallest, being Mexico. To classify “only” US citizens as American while ignoring more than half the continent’s land mass and its citizens is not correct. US soil, less than half the continent, is not the only occupied soil in North America. 2 countries that make up more than half a continent should not be denied their right, or the honour, to call themselves American as they live in North America as any US citizen does. All 3 countries in North America are equally “American” by association. Look at Europe. It has 44 countries but have you ever heard “Russia of Europe” or “France of Europe” or any other “of Europe” country use Europe when claiming their identity? No. Why? Because 1 country of 44 cannot claim to be the only people entitled to address themselves as European. That makes perfect sense and 3 countries in North America are no different. Look at Turkey: it borders 3 continents but do you ever hear “Turkey of Asia”, or “Turkey of Africa” or “Turkey of Europe”? No. Turkey is part of all 3 continents but is not regarded as the only chosen nationality of any one continent. The reason the US has had the right to claim they are the only “Americans” in North America is their population far exceeds that of Canada and Mexico combined, and Canada and Mexico accepted this massive population could assume the title of being American centuries ago. The US has always been more populated than the other 2 North American countries, and it has massive wealth compared to most nations. Regardless of how the US got its name “of America”, or how populated it is or has been, or how rich it is compared to the other countries, I think it is unreasonable to say residents of 1 of 3 countries that occupies less than half the continent has the right to exclusively claim themselves as the only people entitled to use the continent’s geographical position in their name. While that is 100% true, it will not ever happen. US citizens have been recognized worldwide as the only “Americans” for far too long for it to ever change now, whether is it technically correct or not., Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Learn more about Microsoft, our commitments, and values., Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere..