Smithsonian Magazine · Mens & maatschappij

How the United States Got Its Name

The name "United States of America" evolved from early considerations like "United Colonies" to its current form, reflecting changing political ideas.

Early on, "United Colonies" was favored to show collective action against Britain, a concept promoted by Paine and Franklin.

On September 9, 1776, "United States" was adopted, shifting focus from colonies to states, aligning with Paine's "American states."

The Declaration of Independence used "united States" (lowercase 'u'), signifying a confederation of independent states, not a single nation.

The Articles of Confederation (1781) reinforced "The United States of America" but kept states sovereign, with limited central power.

The Constitution (1789) retained the name but strengthened the central government, capitalizing "United" to show a firmer union.

The "America" part, from mapmaker Waldseemüller, faced challenges. "Columbia" was proposed to honor Columbus, and other names like "Appalachia" were suggested.

Despite various renaming proposals, "United States of America" endured, becoming the established name for the nation.

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