jar546
Forum Coordinator
The United States is now the only industrialized country in the world that does not use the metric system as its predominant system of measurement. Let that sink in.
Most Americans think that our involvement with metric measurement is relatively new. In fact, the United States has been increasing its use of metric units for many years, and the pace has accelerated in the past three decades. In the early 1800's, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (the government’s surveying and map-making agency) used meter and kilogram standards brought from France. In 1866, Congress authorized the use of the metric system in this country and supplied each state with a set of standard metric weights and measures.
In 1875, the United States solidified its commitment to the development of the internationally recognized metric system by becoming one of the original seventeen signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. The signing of this international agreement concluded five years of meetings in which the metric system was reformulated, refining the accuracy of its standards. The Treaty of the Meter, also know as the “Metric Convention,@ established the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Sèvres, France, to provide standards of measurement for worldwide use. In 1893, metric standards, developed through international cooperation under the auspices of BIPM, were adopted as the fundamental standards for length and mass in the United States. Our customary measurements -- the foot, pound, quart, etc. -- have been defined in relation to the meter and the kilogram ever since.
As someone who grew up with a 72" folding rule and tape measure in his hands, I know the ins and outs of our current system. As someone who is forward thinking, I realize we are way, way too long overdue to convert to the metric system, especially the manufacturing industry (it will save them money) and the construction industry. It won't take as long as you may think to get use to.
More info here:
https://www.nist.gov/system/files/d...wn needs.-,Q.,necessity for the United States.
Most Americans think that our involvement with metric measurement is relatively new. In fact, the United States has been increasing its use of metric units for many years, and the pace has accelerated in the past three decades. In the early 1800's, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (the government’s surveying and map-making agency) used meter and kilogram standards brought from France. In 1866, Congress authorized the use of the metric system in this country and supplied each state with a set of standard metric weights and measures.
In 1875, the United States solidified its commitment to the development of the internationally recognized metric system by becoming one of the original seventeen signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. The signing of this international agreement concluded five years of meetings in which the metric system was reformulated, refining the accuracy of its standards. The Treaty of the Meter, also know as the “Metric Convention,@ established the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Sèvres, France, to provide standards of measurement for worldwide use. In 1893, metric standards, developed through international cooperation under the auspices of BIPM, were adopted as the fundamental standards for length and mass in the United States. Our customary measurements -- the foot, pound, quart, etc. -- have been defined in relation to the meter and the kilogram ever since.
As someone who grew up with a 72" folding rule and tape measure in his hands, I know the ins and outs of our current system. As someone who is forward thinking, I realize we are way, way too long overdue to convert to the metric system, especially the manufacturing industry (it will save them money) and the construction industry. It won't take as long as you may think to get use to.
More info here:
https://www.nist.gov/system/files/d...wn needs.-,Q.,necessity for the United States.