the States vs American

the States and American both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
the States	Yes	No	No	No
American	Yes	Yes	No	No

the States (noun)	American (noun)
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776	the English language as used in the United States
	a native or inhabitant of the United States
	a native or inhabitant of a North American or Central American or South American country

the States (adjective)	American (adjective)
	of or relating to or characteristic of the continents and islands of the Americas
	of or relating to the United States of America or its people or language or culture