How the Army gave America its Name
While the history is a bit murky, the Army appears to have had a significant role in giving America both the "United States of America" and the abbreviation "U.S.A."
In a few months, when the 2024 Olympics kick off in Paris, one chant will ring out across America as people watch the games from their living rooms, phones, and VR headsets: “USA, USA, USA”. Few moments bind Americans together as much as when our nation’s athletes wear the flag and compete on the global stage. During those moments, there is a simple script we all follow, one with just those three letters.
But did you ever wonder where USA came from? Yes, it’s the abbreviation for “United States of America”, but that’s not the full story.
In fact, the history behind America’s name—the United States of America—is itself a bit murky. On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress official adopted the name “United States” of America, replacing “United Colonies”. Leading up to this moment were a series of events, many of which featured the Army.
Ben Franklin is often cited as first giving voice to the idea of a united America with his “Join or Die” cartoon published in 1754.1
The Army appears to first enter this narrative on June 19, 1775, just a few days after it was created, when the Continental Congress appointed George Washington Commander In Chief. The language of Washington’s commission appointed him as “General and Commander in chief of the army of the United Colonies and of all the forces raised.” This commission, which also described the Continental Congress as the “delegates of the United Colonies”, was one of the first formal, government documents to articulate a unified identity for what would become America.
Source: Library of Congress.
The Army makes a second appearance with a letter written January 2, 1776, six months before the Declaration of Independence—an early draft of which led with “A Declaration of the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…”—was adopted. As noted by Byron DeLear in 2013, this letter was penned by Stephen Moylan, an aide-de-camp to George Washington. In the letter, Moylan says that he wants to take the “full and ample powers from the United States of America” to Europe to get support for the Continental Army’s fight. DeLear makes the case that George Washington, in conversation with Moylan, likely described the colonies in this way, as it would have been risky for an aide to include an unsanctioned reference to independence.2
Finally, the Army takes the stage one more time in this story of our nation’s name. According to John C. Fitzpatrick, who served with the Library of Congress in the early 20th century, the abbreviation “U.S.A.” was first used starting in August 1776, when Congress directed the inspection of gunpowder casks for the Army. Approved casks were stamped “U.S.A.”
Names matter. We are fortunate that ours reminds us it is only through unity that our nation perseveres and thrives.
In this way, the Army will be a silent partner as we cheer for America this summer at the Olympics. So too will the countless Army inspectors, names long lost to history, who toiled over casks of gunpowder to discern which would receive the most coveted mark: U.S.A.
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From The New York Public Library. https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/fortitude/item/5486.
A post from the New York Historical Society added that a reference to Moylan’s use of “United States of America” was made by historian Curtis P. Nettels in 1951. https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/coined-phrase-united-states-america-may-never-guess.