Can armies make US citizens? (9)

I believe the answer is:

americans

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'us citizens?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'can armies make' is the wordplay.
'make' is an anagram indicator.
'can'+'armies'='canarmies'
'canarmies' anagrammed gives 'AMERICANS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for americans that I've seen before include "Yanks" , "Rains came (anag.)" , "New Yorkers, e.g." , "across the pond?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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