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Our nation has now been referred to as the United States of America for over 250 years – but who actually came up with the name?
Early founders and government officials of the United States had already colloquially called the nation this name, said Sara Karpinski, a park ranger at Independence National Historical Park.
“But it’s (official) when the Continental Congress puts into its legislation essentially that from this point on, whenever we talk about this grouping of people, it will be referred to as the United States of America,” she said.
On Monday, September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress moved forward in approving some resolutions. One of them 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.”
The name “America” began long before the founders decided on the United States.
German mapmaker Martin Waldseemüller created the first map referring to the area – which now includes Canada, Mexico and South America. He called it America in honor of Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer who contributed to many early explorations of the area.
“To have this beginning of a unified identity around the wording of the United States of America really helps to put at least one little first step to creating a bigger concept of nationhood and creation of a country in what is the first few years of a really, really challenging war,” Karpinski said.
Developing a cohesive identity
Karpinski said the new group of settlers in the U.S. were still figuring out how to identify themselves. This new naming helped them advance toward a more cohesive goal.
“It really is a shift for a very young, very new nation to go from thinking of itself as colonists and subjects to thinking of itself more as citizens of this new nation,” she said.
Some prior mentions of the U.S. called the States the “United Colonies.”
But in some prior documents, like the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson used the statement: “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.” The name was also used in the first draft of the Articles of Confederation, which was submitted to Congress on July 8, 1776.
Karpinski explained that the Sept. 9 resolution, though, was the first deliberate mention of the name – and the start of the group name that we now know to represent freedom and individuality.
“Creating a country is really hard and really challenging, and in 1776, pretty much we have the Continental Congress and the army that make us a nation, and this is the beginning of a unified identity,” she said.
This week’s Firstival will give attendees the chance to talk to park rangers about the United States’ history and origins, to play board games and to explore Independence Hall.
It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Independence Hall at 520 Chestnut St.
Below is more info on all of this year’s Firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Week 30: American art school (1805)
Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Week 31: Zoo in America (1874)
Week 32: U.S. Mint (1793)
Week 33: Selfie (1839)
Week 34: Slinky (1943)
Week 35: Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Weel 36: Continental Congress (1774)
Upcoming
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
