The formal name “United States of America” was adopted in 1776 during the American Revolution as a precise designation for the newly independent nation, reflecting its unity among formerly separate colonies and its identity on the continent of America.
Before 1776, the term “America” broadly referred to British North American territories rather than a specific country. Early colonial figures, including Benjamin Franklin, used “America” to mean the British territories in the New World. For example, Franklin’s 1754 Albany Plan of Union spoke of “America” to indicate these colonies collectively under British rule. Similarly, colonial documents frequently referred to “his Majesty’s dominions in America,” which meant the landmass of British colonies in North America.
The name “America” itself stems from early European maps, notably the 1507 Waldseemüller map, where the new lands were labeled “America” after explorer Amerigo Vespucci. English documents from the late 16th and early 17th centuries also used the name to describe territories such as Virginia. However, there was no single political unit called America before independence; the colonies were separate possessions under British governance.
During the 1760s and early 1770s, the colonists increasingly identified as “Americans,” meaning residents of British America. The 1774 Articles of Association, for instance, explicitly addressed colonial grievances “in America” and referred to “his Majesty’s American subjects.” Yet, this was a cultural and geographic identity, not a political one.
The critical transition to the formal name occurred amidst revolutionary developments in 1776. Initially, the colonies were known collectively as the “United Colonies.” By June 1776, drafts of key documents began using “United States of America” to describe the union of independent states:
- Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson’s draft (June 1776) referred to “the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in the opening line.
- Articles of Confederation: Early drafts from July 1776 also employed the name “United States of America.”
On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally replaced “United Colonies” with “United States” in all official documents. One resolution read: “That in all continental commissions, and other instruments, where, heretofore, the words ‘United Colonies’ have been used, the stile be altered for the future to the ‘United States.’” This established the official usage of the new name.
This change created a unified national identity bound together politically and geographically. “United States” emphasized the coming together of formerly independent colonies. Adding “of America” located this union distinctly on the American continent, separated from other European-controlled territories and new nations elsewhere. The full term “United States of America” thus described a new nation consisting of multiple states united on the American continent.
Earlier uses of “United States” had happened in resolutions and proposals, for example, Richard Henry Lee’s June 1776 resolution called for independence of “these United Colonies.” But the final formal name came through congress’s resolution and foundational documents in mid to late 1776.
The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, and the Declaration of Independence (ratified July 4, 1776) both used the name continuously, further cementing it. The 1787 Constitution continued this practice without change.
In context, the name “United States of America” symbolized more than geography or political status. It reflected an expression of freedom and sovereignty distinct from British rule. The Paris Treaty ratified in 1784 formally recognized the sovereignty of the “United States of America.”
Some contemporaries found the term uninspiring, considering it a legalistic label rather than a stirring title. Nonetheless, it endured and now represents the country’s identity globally.
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1754 | Benjamin Franklin’s Albany Plan | Referenced “America” as British North America |
| 1774 | Articles of Association | Used “America” to define colonial grievances & identity |
| June 1776 | Drafts of Declaration and Articles of Confederation | Applied “United States of America” for the new nation |
| July 4, 1776 | Declaration of Independence ratified | Officially used “United States of America” |
| September 9, 1776 | Congress resolution | Formally replaced “United Colonies” with “United States” |
| 1781 | Articles of Confederation ratified | Established government of the United States of America |
| 1784 | Paris Treaty ratified | International recognition of sovereignty |
Key points:
- “Of America” was added by 1776 as part of the formal name to specify the continental location.
- Name reflected political union of states formerly called colonies.
- Used first in drafts by Jefferson and Dickinson during mid-1776.
- Second Continental Congress officially adopted the term in September 1776.
- Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) solidified use.
- Articles of Confederation and U.S. Constitution continued the formal name.
- Name symbolizes freedom, unity, and independence from British rule.
When was “of America” first formally added to the name “United States”?
The term “United States of America” was first formally adopted in 1776. The Second Continental Congress officially used it when declaring independence on July 4, 1776.
Why was “of America” included in the country’s name?
“Of America” distinguished the new nation within the continent. It reflected the colonists’ identity as Americans living in British America before independence.
Did the name “United States of America” appear in documents before July 1776?
Yes. Drafts like John Dickinson’s Articles of Confederation and Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration drafts used the phrase earlier in 1776, but formal adoption was mid-year.
What was the name used before “United States of America”?
Before 1776, the colonies were called the “United Colonies.” The name changed officially in September 1776 to “United States” and included “of America” from earlier documents.
How did colonial use of “America” influence the formal name?
The term “America” was used to describe British North America well before 1776. Early colonial leaders like Benjamin Franklin used “America” to refer to the land that became the USA.
Did the Constitution change the country’s name?
No, the Constitution continued using the established name “United States of America.” The name was set by Congress and the Declaration of Independence before the Constitution was written.
