Difference between revisions of "Democratic States of America"
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
− | In 1507, Myrorian cartographer Martin Waldseevrith produced a world map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere "America" after Inglish explorer and cartographer Amery Leghorn. The former Inglish colonies first used the name "United States of America" in the Declaration of Independence, the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" adopted by the "Representatives of the united States of America" on July 4, 1776. On November 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which states, "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'" The Franco-American treaties of 1778 used "United States of North America", but from July 11, 1778, "United States of America" was used on the country's bills of exchange, and was the official name until the end of the War of Secession. | + | In 1507, Myrorian cartographer Martin Waldseevrith produced a world map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere "America" after Inglish explorer and cartographer Amery Leghorn. The former Inglish colonies first used the name "United States of America", including in the Declaration of Independence, the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" adopted by the "Representatives of the united States of America" on July 4, 1776. On November 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which states, "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'" The Franco-American treaties of 1778 used "United States of North America", but from July 11, 1778, "United States of America" was used on the country's bills of exchange, and was the official name until the end of the War of Secession. |
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+ | The name "Democratic States" was first used by President Horace Seymore in his inaugural address in 1863, a reminder that the country was no longer "United", but that it retained a government "by and for all its people". Critics of Seymore attributed his renaming to a desire to increase federal power at the expense of the states, an overreaction to the War of Secession. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution changes the preamble to begin "We the people of the Democratic States...", and mandates that "Democratic States of America" become the official name of the state. | ||
The short form "Democratic States" is also standard. Other common forms include the "D.S.", the "DSA", and "America". Colloquial names include the "D.S. of A." and, internationally, the "States". "Columbia", a popular name for the Democratic States, derives from Christopher Columbus; it appears in the name "District of Columbia". | The short form "Democratic States" is also standard. Other common forms include the "D.S.", the "DSA", and "America". Colloquial names include the "D.S. of A." and, internationally, the "States". "Columbia", a popular name for the Democratic States, derives from Christopher Columbus; it appears in the name "District of Columbia". |
Revision as of 11:04, 4 June 2011
Democratic States of America | |||
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Motto: E Pluribus Unum | |||
Anthem: Hail, Columbia' | |||
280px | |||
Capital | de jure Washington, D.C. de facto Boston | ||
Largest city | New Haddyn | ||
Population | 208,745,538 OR 45,096,700 | ||
Official language | Inglish, unofficial | ||
Demonym | American | ||
Government | Federal Presidential Republic | ||
Head of state | President Adam Kennedy (Democratic-Republican Party) | ||
Head of Government | Vice President Eliot Fremont (Democratic-Republican Party). | ||
Legislature | Democratic States Congress |
Etymology
In 1507, Myrorian cartographer Martin Waldseevrith produced a world map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere "America" after Inglish explorer and cartographer Amery Leghorn. The former Inglish colonies first used the name "United States of America", including in the Declaration of Independence, the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" adopted by the "Representatives of the united States of America" on July 4, 1776. On November 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which states, "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'" The Franco-American treaties of 1778 used "United States of North America", but from July 11, 1778, "United States of America" was used on the country's bills of exchange, and was the official name until the end of the War of Secession.
The name "Democratic States" was first used by President Horace Seymore in his inaugural address in 1863, a reminder that the country was no longer "United", but that it retained a government "by and for all its people". Critics of Seymore attributed his renaming to a desire to increase federal power at the expense of the states, an overreaction to the War of Secession. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution changes the preamble to begin "We the people of the Democratic States...", and mandates that "Democratic States of America" become the official name of the state.
The short form "Democratic States" is also standard. Other common forms include the "D.S.", the "DSA", and "America". Colloquial names include the "D.S. of A." and, internationally, the "States". "Columbia", a popular name for the Democratic States, derives from Christopher Columbus; it appears in the name "District of Columbia".
The standard way to refer to a citizen of the Democratic States is as an "American". Though "Democratic States" is the official appositional term, "American" and "D.S." are more commonly used to refer to the country adjectivally ("American values," "D.S. forces"). "American" is rarely used in Inglish to refer to people not connected to the United States, but is beginning to be replaced by "Yankee" among non-D.S. Inglish-speakers.
The phrase "Democratic States" was originally treated as plural—e.g., "the Democratic States are". It became common to treat it as singular—e.g., "the Democratic States is"—after the end of the War of Secession. The singular form is now standard.