Why do the English and Americans have different measuring systems?
111465
I'm really worried about all you folks who say you learned your incorrect answers in history class.  What are they teaching you?\nThe awkward system of measurement that Americans use was also used by the English until just a couple of decades ago.  It has nothing to do with Americans wanting to be different from the English, or the American Revolution, or anything like that.\nThe metric system was invented by French scientists in the Age of Enlightenment back in the 18th Century when the French (quite literally) worshipped Reason.  (There were even temples to Reason during the French Revolution.)\n During this revolution, in the 1790's, the French instituted the very rational, scientific metric system, in which everything is based on the decimal system.  The basic unit of measurement, the metre, was established by determining the distance between the equator and the North Pole and then dividing that by powers of ten until you got something small enough to be a useful unit of measurement in everyday life.  The gram was established by weighing the amount of water in a cubic centimeter (at least I think it was a centimeter).  In the centigrade system of temperature, 0 is the temperature at which water freezes and 100 is the temperature at which it boils.  Everything is beautifully rational, and therefore good for science, where it is universally used.\n\nThe French Revolution failed but its measuring system lived on, because it was so useful.  The English, who hated the French, refused to adopt their measuring system until they were forced to by the emergence of the Common Market.  Others on this list have accurately given the history of the failure of Americans to convert to the metric system.  But that's how it all began.
975657
Most American countries use scales to measure an object's weight, or Earth's gravitational pull on it, while most European countries use balances to measure its mass- a measure of the amount of matter in the object. The reason for European countries to measure mass instead of weight is because mass is a more reliable way to measure things, because it doesn't change in relation to your position on Earth.
795256
I teach students who are 11 years old in an American school. By the time they get to me almost all have had experience with measuring with the metric system. \n\nIn the U.S. public school I teach at, we teach both the standard and metric systems.
1090826
I'm an engineer, I use both. European engineering companies work in metric, the US is imperial. I'm bilingual.\n\nJ
42886
There is a detailed (perhaps too detailed) explanation at the following location:\nhttp://www.france-property-and-information.com/metric-system-and-history.htm\n\nYou will also find at this location several pages which will discuss other aspects of your question.\n\nIn terms of capacity, the metric system and the USA/Imperial systems simply use different units. The situation is a bit more complex for weight/mass. \n\nWeight is how much something ways, whereas mass is the amount of matter. We say that a kilogram (mass) is equal to 2.2 pounds (weight). However, this is true (roughly) only on Earth. For example, something that is 100kg. (220 pounds) on Earth would still be 100 kg. on the moon but only about 37 pounds on the moon. That is because mass is constant whereas weight depends on gravity. For most of this, the distinction is unimportant as we all live and work on the earth. However, scientific purposes (e.g. space travel) weight and mass are very different.
375829
This is because modern English is made of two dialects, Typical (or British) English, and Regional (or American) English. While typical English is made of the same rules as developed as a British-French language, regional English changes depending on the ethnicity of those who speak it.  For instance, color is an regional word, and its typical counterpart is colour. This is because the french for color is couleur, and the original British (who were of French origin) copyed that. This is why Americans have words like stoop, which are taken from other languages (stoop comes from the Dutch colonizers of New York).
650136
Depends what measuring stick you use.  We (the US) have more major sports than anyone else and tend to spend a lot more money on them.
1066463
When Shaw wrote these acerbic words, the difference between the English spoken in US and UK was distinct.  Not so now, what with increasing globalisation and American influence in trade, industry and commerce world-wide.  If someone uses an Amercanism like 'side-walk' (for platform) or 'elevator'(for lift) in his conversation with an Englishman, it wont bewlider the latter.\n\nTherefore, US and UK are not two countries separated by one language.  Shaw is outdated, no doubt
126053
I think the main reason is common language and culture.\n\nAlthough America is a land of immigrants, the founding fathers were British and the English language has become dominant in the UK.  \n\nThe 20th century brought the UK/US closer together where we were allies in 2 world wars and how both countries worked to set up the UN and NATO.  \n\nNow the culture of the 2 countries is inextricably linked primarily through the benefit of a common language.
114062
I dont know, people are just slow to change I guess.  Also, there isnt much reason for the "average" person to change, they can get through life quite easily not know a single metric unit.\n\nThe United States has through redinfined its standard measurement system in terms of metric equililents and is suppose to use metric measurement on official stuff.\nCongressed passed the Metric Conversion in 1975 to promote the use of the metric system in the US.\n\nI love the SI system, it is great.  I am get a little agrivated when I have to explain how many pounds are in a kilogram to people, and I think in Liters.\nHowever, I still like to use miles per hour for speed.
759406
There's the English system, using feet, pounds and seconds.\n\nThere are the two metric systems, differing only in where you put the decimal point.  The cgs system is centimeter-gram-second.  The mks system is meter-kilogram-second.  These are also called SI (System Internationale).
1177338
I dont know but its messed up that we use that instead of the Metric system, I was born in south africa and I know the metric system and pretty much everyone else too but some ppl here dont even understand their own measurement system
882630
I agree with you. The academics here in the U.S are still studying with a viewpoint of "us vs. them". Occidental vs. oriental etc. Its really a 17th century phenomenon that needs to stop. Look at china, singapore, hongkong, japan, etc all of them have almost the same living standard than most of americans. But we regard our opinion as somewhat higher or better or cleverer even before we let them speak. Its tautology at its best!\np.s: Thanks for asking good questions. \n:)
262491
This is not an easy question to answer.\nImperial measurements and their history is briefly explained in Link 1.\nAs far as the foot is concerned, it has connections to the Roman's length measurements but was retained in the Imperial system.\nThe English Imperial system  and the American system diverged shortly after American Independence. See Link 2.\nSee Link 3. for a more complex explanation.
164835
All dialects of English are real English.\nIt's true that the accents are different.\nThe main difference between American and British dialects is the way they pronounce vowels.
616595
This is America, why should we use a foreign measuring system? What is the matter with America staying American? Why should we have to adjust to all the foreigners ways? If they come here they should adjust to our ways.
243843
Way back in the days of kings, measurements were parts of the king's body, and it changed from king to king, but was always similar. That's where a foot came from, it was the length of the king's foot. An inch was from the knuckle to the tip of the thumb. Then after awhile they realized this was innaccurate because if you had different kings yoru measurements were off, and when the king died you got new measurements, so then they standardized it. Then someone had a competition in France to see if someone could come up with a better system, and the metric system was the winner.