Why are people from the US called "Americans"?

"Canadians" was already taken.

It's called america. And not everyone here is a loud fat moron you moron!! **** off!! I actually have some pride and happen to be thin, and very intelligent!!!

Great question.
A Venezuelan and a Costa Rican are as American as anyone born and raised in Kentucky.
They are just from different countries.

I've always called people from the US "Yanks"

lolololol

You called people from the United States loud, fat morons.

You should be a stand-up comedian.

Because they live in America?

In the same way I don't like saying I'm European (in that I live in Britain). I feel like I need a wash whenever I hear that hehe

lol.. ya, loud, fat morons. that does sound about right.

...because USBurgers didn't sound quite right.

Perhaps for the same reason we are called British - somebody sailed here and told us we were!

Because it's what the continent is called, the America's. You could call me English, British and European.

Not sure...perhaps bc ppl fro canada are referred to as "canadians" and from Latin America, " south americans"...its the whole thing incorrect but hey lol..

When I lived in Japan, the Canadians were quick to point out they were NOT Americans.

Possibly because there were a lot of 'loud' Americans around

Why do we need a "widely accepted descriptive" of any body? (Btw, I'm skinny, quiet and slightly above average intelligence with a fair shake of common sense - Idk about you...)
Technically, yes, we should say we are United States of American... Obviously, that is incredibly awkward and just silly.... American is a nickname... When a son is named after his dad, often he is called Junior. Does that mean that ALL Juniors have the same first name as him? Only if the name is actually Junior as opposed to Jack Jr. or whatever.
Also, shouldn't we be striving to join in solidarity with the citizens of ALL American countries? What in the hell is wrong with saying "I am an American" knowing that that term groups you with a large and culturally diverse number of people from almost half of the globe? Are you ashamed to be part of the same group of people as Canadians, Brazilians, Mexicans, Chileans, etc.?
Not me.
I AM AN AMERICAN.
Same as you Gyro. Same as you Alexander. Same as you Consuela. Same as you Jean Paul. Same as you Pedro.