Americas (terminology)
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{{Subdivisions of America|150px}}
The '''[[Americas]]''', also known as '''[[America (disambiguation)|America]]''', are the lands of the [[western hemisphere]], composed of numerous entities and regions variably defined by geography, politics, and culture.
The Americas are frequently reckoned to comprise two separate [[continent]]s ([[North America]] and [[South America]]), especially in [[Anglosphere|English-speaking nations]]. The Americas may also be reckoned to comprise a single continent (named ''America''), particularly in [[Latin America]] and in some [[Europe]]an nations.<ref name="MoC">{{cite book|title=The Myth of Continents|author=Martin W. Lewis, Karen E. Wigen|chapter=Chapter One, The Architecture of Continents|publisher=University of California Press|year=1997|isbn=0-520-20742-4}}</ref>
== Physical geography==
* [[North America]]—the [[continent]] and associated [[island]]s of the [[northern hemisphere]] and (chiefly) western hemisphere. It lies northwest of South America and is bounded by the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic]], and [[Pacific Ocean]]s.
** [[Middle America (Americas)|Middle America]]—the territory between the southern [[Rocky Mountains]] and the northern tip of the [[Andes]]. This [[isthmus]] marks the transition between North and South America. It may also include the [[Caribbean]].<ref name="ma1">"[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052538/Middle-America Middle America]", ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', on line. Accessed [[October 12]], [[2007]].</ref><ref name="ma2">"[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Middle%20America Middle America]." ''Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary''. Accessed [[October 11]], [[2007]].</ref>
*** [[Central America]]—the narrow southern portion of mainland North America connecting with South America, extending from the [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]] to the [[Isthmus of Panama]]; alternatively, the [[Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt]] may delimit the region on the north.<ref>Nord-Amèrica, in ''[http://www.grec.cat Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana]</ref><ref>"[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110092/Central-America Central America]". ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', on line. Accessed [[October 12]], [[2007]].</ref>
*** [[Caribbean]]—the region between southeastern North America and northern South America consisting of the [[Caribbean Sea]], its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The islands—composed of the [[Greater Antilles]], [[Lesser Antilles]], and [[Bahamas|the Bahamas]]—are also known as the [[West Indies]] (or, in some languages, the [[Antilles]]); they are often included in the region of Middle America.
* [[South America]]—the continent and associated islands of the [[western hemisphere]]. It is chiefly in the southern hemisphere and lies between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, southeast of North America.
==Human geography==
===Geographical or geopolitical regions===
* [[North America]]—when used to denote less than the entire North American continent, this term may include [[Canada]], [[Mexico]] and the [[United States]],<ref>{{citeweb|title=North America|publisher=Michigan State University Global Access |url=http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/geo/northamerica/|accessdate=2007-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Statement by Prime Minister Harper, President Bush, and President Calderón|date=2007-08-12|publisher=The White House|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070821-2.html|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Citizenship and Human Rights in the North American Region|date=2006-10-05|publisher=Centre of North American Politics and Society, Carleton University|url=http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p74344_index.html|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Teaching Geography and Geopolitics|date=May 2002|publisher=Foreign Policy Research Institute|url=http://www.fpri.org/footnotes/074.200205.kuehner.teachinggeographygeopolitics.html|accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref> or just Canada and the United States together.<ref>pp. 30–31, ''Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts'', H. J. de Blij and Peter O. Muller, Wiley, 12th ed., 2005 (ISBN 047171786X.)</ref><ref>p. 168, Lewis and Wigen.</ref><ref>Burchfield, R. W., ed. 2004. "America." ''[[Fowler's Modern English Usage]]'' (ISBN 0-19-861021-1) New York: Oxford University Press, p. 48</ref><ref>McArthur, Tom. 1992."North American." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (ISBN 0-19-214183-X) New York: Oxford University Press, p. 707.</ref> It may also include the [[Dependent territory|dependencies]] of [[Bermuda]] ([[United Kingdom|U.K.]]), [[Greenland]] ([[Denmark]]), and [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] ([[France]].)<ref>"[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562468/North_America.html North America]", ''MSN Encarta'', Microsoft. Accessed on line [[October 10]], [[2007]].</ref>
* [[Middle America (Americas)|Middle America]]—[[Mexico]] and the nations of [[Central America]]; often also includes the [[Caribbean|West Indies]]. Occasionally, [[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]] are also included in Middle America.<ref name="ma1" /><ref name="ma2" />
** [[Central America]]—the southern region of the North American continent, comprising [[Belize]], [[Costa Rica]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Nicaragua]], and [[Panama]].<ref>"[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Central_America.html Central America]", ''MSN Encarta'', Microsoft. Accessed on line [[October 12]], [[2007]].</ref> Sometimes, Central America may be defined to only include the five countries which gained independence as the [[United Provinces of Central America]]. This definition excludes Belize and Panama.<ref>"Central America", ''Encyclopedia Americana'', Grolier: 2002.</ref>
** [[West Indies]]—the island territories of the Caribbean.
* [[South America]]—contains the nations of [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Guyana]], [[Paraguay]], [[Peru]], [[Suriname]], [[Uruguay]], and [[Venezuela]], and the [[France|French]] [[overseas department]] of [[French Guiana]]. Also includes the insular territories of the [[Falkland Islands]] ([[United Kingdom|U.K.]]), the [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]] ([[United Kingdom|U.K.]]), [[Fernando de Noronha]] (Brazil), [[Trindade and Martim Vaz]] (Brazil), the [[Galápagos Islands]] (Ecuador), and the [[Juan Fernández Islands]] (Chile).<ref>"[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574914/South_America.html South America]", ''MSN Encarta'', Microsoft. Accessed on line [[October 12]], [[2007]].</ref>
* [[Middle America (United States)]]—''Middle America'' may also refer to the [[midwestern United States]] or the [[middle-class]] segment of the U.S. population.<ref name="ma2" />
===United Nations geoscheme===
{{UN geoscheme for the Americas|150px}}
{{main|United Nations geoscheme}}
* [[Northern America]]—the northern region of the North American continent, comprising [[Canada]], the [[United States]], [[Greenland]], [[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon]], and [[Bermuda]].
* [[Latin America]] and the Caribbean:
** [[Central America]]—the countries south of the [[United States]] and north of [[Colombia]].
** [[Caribbean]].
** [[South America]]—all the countries south of [[Panama]].
Within this scheme, the continent of North America comprises Northern America, Central America, and the Caribbean.<ref>[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings]. [[United Nations]] Statistics Division, Country and Region Codes. Revised [[August 28]], [[2007]]. Accessed on line [[October 12]], [[2007]].</ref>
<br style="clear:both;"/>
===Political divisions===
{| style="float:right;"
|[[Image:LocationWHUnitedStatesofAmerica.png|125px|thumb|<small>[[United States|United States of America<br /> ]]</small>]]
|[[Image:LocationWHConfederateStatesofAmerica.png|125px|thumb|<small>[[Confederate States of America]] (1861-1865)</small>]]
|-
|[[Image:LocationWHFederalRepublicofCentralAmerica.png|125px|thumb|<small>[[United Provinces of Central America|Federal Republic of Central America]] (1823-1840)</small>]]
|[[Image:LocationWHWestIndiesFederation.png|125px|thumb|<small>[[West Indies Federation]] (1958-1962)</small>]]
|}
* [[United States|United States of America]]—a [[federalism|federal]] [[republic]] in North America founded in 1776 and comprising [[U.S. state|50 states]] and one federal district (the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]]), with [[Political divisions of the United States#Territories of the United States|several outlying territories of varying affiliation]]; commonly referred to as ''the U.S.'' or simply ''America''.
** [[Confederate States of America]]—a proposed [[confederation]] in North America from 1861 to 1865, comprising eleven [[southern United States|southern states]] that attempted to [[secession|secede]] from the United States of America: [[Alabama]], [[Arkansas]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], [[North Carolina]], [[South Carolina]], [[Tennessee]], [[Texas]], and [[Virginia]]. Their rebellion precipitated the [[American Civil War]]; upon its conclusion, the Confederate States were readmitted to representation in the United States Congress.
* [[British America]]—former designation for British possessions in the Americas.
* [[British North America]]—former designation for territories in North America colonised by [[Great Britain]] in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly after 1783 and in reference to [[Canada]]. At the start of the [[American Revolution]] in 1775, the [[British Empire]] in North America included twenty colonies north of [[Mexico]]. In 1783, the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris]] ended the American Revolution and established boundaries between the [[United States]] and British North America; [[East Florida]] and [[West Florida]] were also ceded to [[Spain]] in the treaty, and then ceded by Spain to the US in 1819. From 1867 to 1873, all but one of the remaining colonies of British North America [[Canadian Confederation|confederated]] (through a [[British North America Acts|series of eponymous acts]]) into the [[Canada|Dominion of Canada]]. [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] joined Canada in [[1949]].
* [[British West Indies]]—the islands and territories of the Caribbean under British colonial influence.
* [[United Provinces of Central America|Federal Republic of Central America]]—formerly the ''United Provinces of Central America'', a federal republic in Central America from 1823 to 1840 comprising the newly independent [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish territories]]: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and (later) [[Los Altos, Central America|Los Altos]]. In 1838, the federation succumbed to [[civil war]] and dissolved.
* [[Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America|Northern America]] ''(América Septentrional)''-the first official name of [[Mexico]]<ref>[http://www.diputados.gob.mx/cedia/museo/sala3_mas.htm Mexican Congress]</ref>.
** [[Toponymy of Mexico#The names of the country|Mexican America]] ''(América Mexicana)''-a name chosen and drafted in the first Mexican constitution<ref>[http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/infjur/leg/conshist/pdf/1814.pdf Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana]</ref>.
* [[West Indies Federation]]—a [[federation]] of several Caribbean island [[colony|colonies]] and [[British overseas territory|territories of the United Kingdom]] (''see also: [[British West Indies]]'') from 1958 to 1962. This was followed by the [[West Indies Associated States]], a smaller, looser polity, from 1967 to 1981.
===Linguistic/cultural regions===
* [[Anglo-America]]—the region of the Americas having significant historical, linguistic, and cultural links to [[England]] or the [[British Isles]], e.g., where [[English language|English]] (a [[Germanic language]]) is officially or primarily spoken; often just Canada and the United States.
* [[Latin America]]—the region of the Americas where [[Romance language]]s derived from [[Latin language|Latin]], namely [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], are officially or primarily spoken.
** [[Ibero-America]]—the region of the Americas having significant historical, linguistic, and cultural links to [[Spain]] or [[Portugal]] (both on the [[Iberian peninsula]].)
*** [[Hispanic America]] (also [[Spanish America]])—those countries inhabited by Spanish-speaking populations.<ref>[http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzamericas.htm What's the difference between North, Latin, Central, Middle, South, Spanish and Anglo America?] Geography at about.com. Accessed on line [[October 12]], [[2007]].</ref>
* [[Mesoamerica]]—a region of the Americas extending from central Mexico southeast to Nicaragua and Costa Rica; a term used especially in [[archaeology]] and [[ethnohistory]] for the region where an array of civilizations had flourished during the [[pre-Columbian]] era, and which shared a number of historical and cultural traditions.
** [[Mesoamerican Linguistic Area]]—a ''[[sprachbund]]'', or linguistic region, defined as the area inhabited by speakers of a set of indigenous languages which have developed certain similarities as a result of their historic and geographical connections; roughly co-terminate with the archaeological/ethnohistorical Mesoamerica.
* [[Aridoamerica]]—an archaeological/ethnohistorical regional division, essentially comprising the arid/semi-arid northern portion of present-day Mexico, whose historical peoples are generally characterised by a nomadic existence and minimal reliance on agriculture.
* [[Oasisamerica]]—an occasionally used archaeological/ethnohistorical term for a (pre-Columbian) cultural region of North America.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== Additional sources ==
* ''[http://www.columbiagazetteer.org/ The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online]''. 2005. New York: Columbia University Press (proprietary; limited access).
* ''[[Merriam-Webster|Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary]]'', 11th ed. 2003. (ISBN 0-87779-809-5) New York: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
* ''Oxford English Reference Dictionary'', 2nd ed. (rev.) 2002. (ISBN 0-19-860652-4) Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
* [http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzamericas.htm What's the difference between North, Latin, Central, Middle, South, Spanish and Anglo America?] Geography at about.com.
==See also==
* [[American (word)]]
* [[Americas]]
* [[Columbia (disambiguation)|Columbia]]
* [[continent]], [[supercontinent]], [[subcontinent]], [[microcontinent]], and [[continental shelf]]
* [[region]], [[subregion]], and [[trade block]]
* [[geography]]
**[[physical geography]]
**[[political geography]] and [[geopolitics]]
**[[human geography]] and [[regional science]]
{{Continents of the world}}
{{Regions of the world}}
[[Category:Americas]]
[[Category:Geography terminology]]
[[ca:Amèrica (terminologia)]]