Why does the USA not use the metric system?

Answer 1

When the Founding Fathers were deciding on a system to regulate U.S. measurements, the default was to use the British Imperial System, as they were subjects of the British Empire. However, the U.S. was very close to adopting the metric system, which was conceived by the French in 1790. But ultimately, Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of state, decided against it. According to Time magazine, “His beef was that the meter was conceived as a portion of a survey of France, which could only be measured in French territory.”

After studying the various units of measurements used across the United States, John Quincy Adams upheld this decision 1821, deciding that the U.S. Customary System was sufficient.

Answer 2

The USA does not use the metric system as its primary system of measurement due to historical reasons and the costs associated with transitioning to a new system across various sectors. Additionally, there is a lack of political will to make the switch and a preference for maintaining the status quo.

Answer 3

U.S. and the Metric SystemThe U.S. does not use the metric system because they use the older Imperial system invented by the Romans. The British also used the same measurement system, but now use the metric system. Most other countries have adopted the metric system as well.

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American scientists and engineers use it where necessary for international work.

The Imperial system may have slender bits of Roman roots but no more than that.

Britain has not fully converted. As well as people still using the familiar Imperial system in everyday life, the only legal units of distance on UK roads are still the yard and mile with vehicle fuel consumption quoted in miles per (Imp.) gallon; the railways still use yards, chains & miles (1ch = 22 yards; 80 ch = 1mile); beers and bottled milk are still sold in pints.

Answer 4

Well USA doesn't use the metric system because of 2 reasons. 1. They are used to using the customary system (but they use the metric system often) Example: A liter of Coca Cola. 2. Money issues. (If USA were to switch to the metric system they would have to use a lot of money to change signs and maybe even instead of putting miles in cars kilometers). By the way I think we are the only country that uses metric system all over the world.(I think some people use it in Canada but I don't know) If interested about more ask more questions and I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

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Most countries use the metric system. The USA is one of the few countries that doesn't use it.

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Those may be right answers, I don't know much. But, I DO know that we also don't use the metric system. Because, since we hated the British we didn't want to be like them. They use the metric system because it seemed easier, well, 100 cm = 1 m. And 100oC is Boiling point - things like that. Why we hated the British? That's a question for Social Studies!

- A 6th grade answer from a 6th grade student! :)

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The FRENCH invented the metric system.

Answer 5

Why hasn't the U.S. gone metric? The U.S. has for years crept toward an increased application of the metric system, but the largest majority of manufacturers here don't believe that it will improve their position in international markets, which was offered as a "best reason" to make the shift. The majority of the U.S. populace is schooled in the metric system secondarily to the customary units. We've seen metrification, which is the term we apply to the conversion from what we currently use to the metric system, slowing down for the last 20 years or so. Certainly there is a broad applicaiton of the metric system in science and a couple of other areas, but it seems we just can't make "believers" out of industry and consumers. The rest of the world is completing a transition to the system (if they weren't already using it across the board), and it may easily come back to bite the U.S. in the butt if we don't continue to push a bit for completion of the transition. There are a number of "mix and match" application of the metric system and conventional units like, say, the use of metric and USS threaded fasteners on motor vehicles. Both types are used on automobiles. But we're still "stuck" with the old units for the now. It is interesting to note that the "clash" between the two systems (metric and "U.S. conventional systems") is generally cited as the reason the 1998 Mars Climate Orbiter crashed and burned. (It actually incinerated upon entry into the Martian atmosphere.) What do we do now? The EU has clearly mandated the use of the metric system in all manufacturing and industrical applications by all members. We're not going to be joining the EU, but we do compete with them, and in many areas, U.S. companies with operations abroad in EU countries are "all metric" in their work there. What's the hold up? We were making the change gradually, and we could easily continue to shift in the direction to total conversion with little extra expense. Those who say we shouldn't may wish to isolate us and make us (the U.S.) a less competitive force in world markets. A link is provided to a directly related Wikipedia article. You'll find that link below.

Answer 6

COST! The cost of replacing everything in this country would be astronomical. Just think of every highway sign, speed limit sign, and others; as well as, over 200 years of legal documents including land deeds as well as others. Still I think we should change

Answer 7

Aside from how much more logical and effecient the metric system is, there is a sense of identity and heritage behind the American system that Americans are unwilling to give up.

Another answer

In the early 1960's there was a great debate concerning this issue. There were plans underway to implement the metric system as had England and the rest of Europe.

Unfortunately, the problems with conversion were many and varied. Among them, the very real problem of population. In those days there were approximately 200 million people in the US and the magnitude of trying to make all those people convert from the current system to metric was/is enormous. There are currently (2008) over 304 million people in the US, so the problem has not dissipated. The sheer logistics of this conversion would have been a nightmare. The building industry, the oil industry, clothing industries, and others who use the old system would be affected as would something as mundane as cooking.

However, since those days, there have been quiet conversions. The auto industry converted to the metric system in the early 1970's, and there have been spotty conversions in other industries.

In the US, the massive logistics problems of mandatory conversion are simply too great. There will always be a significant population that is reactionary, and it was thought that this population would simply ignore the new system, thus creating a "secondary" system which was not optimum.

Rounding out the overview of the problem, Americans are fiercely independent and when the idea was circulated that they should fall in step with the rest of the world and adopt the "new" system (as it was proposed in the 1960's), it was met with typical American bravado. Typical comments of the time were...

Why should we?

They should adopt OUR system!

If it was good enough for centuries, why change now?

It will confuse our kids.

Everything will have to be converted, it isn't worth it.

Think of the cost!

So after years of debate, the plan was abandoned in favor of "gradual" implementation. It has never been totally successful. And Americans still use pounds and ounces, inches and feet, and other archaic measurements. It seems to work for them quite successfully.

Same old thing - tradition! We have partially metricated in Britain over a period of many years, but when I was in Australia in the early 1970s the whole country metricated within about a year. I know that Australia is a much smaller country tha the USA, but it just shows what can be done.

Answer 8

People who already know a system have little incentive to change. The people who benefit most from metric (those who deal in science or with foreign companies) learn it and those who don't have any need (people who have little need to convert units = most people most of the time) don't have the incentive. In the US an attempt was made between 1975 and 1982 to change over to metric. It never achieved critical mass and was stopped.

Answer 9

Because the metric system is not the standard system for the USA!?.

Answer 10

All Americans are used to the Imperial System and it would be very confusing to switch. Also, the Americans don't want to switch over.