Melissa Weirick
The United States is one of three countries in the entire world that doesn’t use the metric system. Instead of measuring things in centimeters, liters, and kilometers, we use inches, ounces, and miles. This can cause a lot of confusion as people try to figure out everything from walking distance to how big a steak is when traveling to a different country!
So, why does the U.S. still use the Imperial system, and where did it come from?
How It All Began
The measurement system that the US follows is called the Imperial system, first known as the British Imperial system, which American colonists inherited from the British Empire.
The Imperial system is based on the human body. Before the British brought it to America, the ancient Egyptians thought it up. They used their feet to measure a foot, their thumbs to measure an inch, and the distance from a nose to an outstretched thumb to measure a yard. Their bodies were the most useful tools they had at the time, so it made sense to use them.
The Imperial system was used by nearly everyone, in some shape or form, until a new measurement system came around in the 1700s.
An Idea Born in France
The French wanted a more organized standard of measurement to not only streamline commerce but reduce confusion between countries and reduce fraud in business transactions. To make this happen, they needed to implement a standard form of measurement.
French scientists wanted to be as precise as possible so others using this system could emulate their work. To accomplish this they based the metric system on the Earth. The distance was noted between the North and South Pole, then divided by a million to create a “meter.” From there, they divided the meter into 100 and called those divisions “centimeters,” because the prefix “centi” means “hundred.” A kilometer is 1000 meters because the prefix “kilo” means “thousand.” This way, everyone could work from the same set of measurements and easily distinguish them from one another.
Now, everyone uses the metric system…
Well, everyone except those in the US, Myanmar, and Liberia.
The US Didn’t Jump on the Bandwagon
In the 1900s, the metric system began permeating the world. The US Congress even made a suggestion that the United States transition as well. But, unfortunately, industrialists had already stocked factories with supplies based on the Imperial system. To prevent a huge loss of money, these industrialists pushed back against Congress to keep the US from switching to the metric system.
Today, the Imperial system is still taught in schools and is considered common knowledge to US citizens, which is fine, until we’re left trying to figure out exactly how long a 5K run really is.
Which is Easier?
There are strong feelings both in favor of and against the US switching to the metric system. Most of the world uses the metric system, and it does make many activities simpler — such as cooking, giving directions, and measuring distances. However, for the vast majority of the US, it would mean learning an entirely new system as well as having to manufacture and purchase all new measuring products, books, signs, and more to adjust.
Whichever side you’re on, it doesn’t seem like the US will be making any changes to our measuring system anytime soon.
