>>>>>Part of this problem may have been created by the founders of the USA when they named it the 'United States of America'.
>>>>
>>>>Well it is on the continent named North America so it should be the United States of America or maybe on America.
>>>
>>>Isn't Mexico in America and composed of states which are united in one country?
>>
>>There wasn't any 'America' or 'North America' when Mexico first became it's own country was there? :o)
>
>Not that I quite follow you, but it is/was meso-America
>
>Oh, and you know me, can't help pointing out the possessive "it's" :-(

It's an easy mistake to make.