Changing Place Names

Did you know that the names of some places can change? In January, President Trump changed the names of two places in the United States. 

Photo Credit: World Politics Archive (WPA)/Alamy Stock Photo

This mountain is in Alaska. It was named Mount McKinley around 100 years ago. Ten years ago President Obama changed its name to Denali. That means “the great one” in the language of the people who live near the mountain. Now President Trump is changing the name back to Mount McKinley. Some people want to keep the name Denali. 

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There’s a big body of water to the south of the United States. It has been known as the Gulf of Mexico for a long time. President Trump changed its name to the Gulf of America. Some people like the new name. They think it shows that the United States is strong. Some people don’t like it.  

What Do You Think? Do you think changing these names is a good idea? Why or why not? 

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