:::::For the longest time 'America' was and continues to be synonymous with the 'United States of America '. When Europeans said they were moving to America it was understood they were going to the U.S.A. There is much literature and many phrases and songs that use 'America' in reference to the U.S.A. (e.g.God bless America  America the Beautiful  American Heritage  , etc, etc). No other country's name contains the word America. South America refers to a continent, a land mass.