why do americans call pancakes flapjacks

Americans call pancakes "flapjacks" because, in North America, the term "flapjack" developed as a synonym for pancakes. The word "flapjack" dates back to 16th-century England, where it originally referred to flat cakes cooked on a griddle or in a pan, with "flap" likely referring to the flipping motion during cooking and "jack" used as a term for a common man’s food. Over time in the U.S. and Canada, "flapjack" became synonymous with the thick, griddle- cooked breakfast cakes we now call pancakes, especially in certain regions like the Southeast of the U.S. This is different from the meaning of "flapjack" in the UK, where it refers to a baked oat bar snack, not a pancake. The interchangeable use of "flapjack" and "pancake" in America reflects this historical evolution and regional language variation.