{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Why Don\u0026#39;t the U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia Use the Metric System?' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54d75fd8eafeecae20b591' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54d75fd8eafeecae20b591' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nWhy Don\u0026#39;t the U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia Use the Metric System?\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30358089\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30358089\"\u003eMr. Beat\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eThe story of the metric system begins in Belgium, where this dude, Simon Stevin came up with the idea.The British philosopher John Wilkins expanded on Stevin's idea and helped promote it further, but it wasn't until the French Revolution...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eThe story of the metric system begins in Belgium, where this dude, Simon Stevin came up with the idea.The British philosopher John Wilkins expanded on Stevin's idea and helped promote it further, but it wasn't until the French Revolution it became a reality. The revolutionaries who overthrew the French monarchy decided the time was right to get everybody on the same measuring system. Before this, it's estimated that around a quarter of a million different units of measure were used in France. Dang dude. The idea was, that if everyone was on the same page, less people would be ripped off and everything would be more efficient. The French philosopher Marquis de Condorcet famously proclaimed the metric system to be \"for all people for all time.\" And yet, it was hard for the new French government to enforce this new system. People were resistant to change, and old units were sometimes used locally. After Napoleon took over, the metric system expanded as the French Empire expanded across the continent. After Napoleon fell, many European countries decided to keep it because they kind of liked it, and it made trade easier. Eventually, as these European countries started colonizing the rest of the world, the metric system spread across the globe. But not to the United States. After the French first established the metric system, Americans thought about doing the same. Thomas Jefferson, the secretary of state at the time, straight up rejected the metric system, saying it was too French. And here TJ was a France fan. I should note that he actually was cool with a different standardized decimal system that used traditional names for units. Regardless, even as the metric system spread, this precedent set by Jefferson held. Sure, there were still plenty of attempts to adopt it later on. Congress even passed The Metric Act of 1866, in uh, 1866 to legalize use of the metric system in the United States. In the early 1900s, famous people like Alexander Graham Bell testified before Congress, urging them to adopt it. In 1927, Americans sent over 100,000 petitions to Congress begging them to officially adopt it. That year, those countries who had officially adopted the metric system were still in the minority. But most Americans resisted, calling metric system proponents elitist and thinking the rest of the world should follow them, not the other way around. And besides, the United Kingdom used the imperial system, too, so nah nah nah nah nah nah. But in a shocking turn of events, in 1973 the UK officially required the country to use the metric system to help their economy. Partially in response to this, President Gerald Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act into law in 1975. This law declared the metric system the best for trade and commerce and set up the United States Metric Board to help transition the country into the metric system. And yet, because the law was voluntary, the United States has yet to fully implement it, which is why there is only one random highway in Arizona that has all metric road signs. Surprisingly, by some estimates, half the country does use the metric system in some form or another. So why don't all Americans get on the same page? Basically because the transition would be a pain in the butt. It would cost a lot and take a lot of time to transfer everything over, and the infrastructure and many industries within the country rely on the imperial system. Momentum is a hard thing to reverse. Myanmar resisted the metric system and used more traditional forms of measurement for so long due to their isolation. Now that they are more open, that's changing. What about Liberia? Well, Liberia was founded by Americans, yo. It was settled by thousands of free African Americans during the 1800s, and they brought American culture and traditions with them, including the imperial measuring system.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"4.0 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=187631\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Length\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e8:04\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003e6th - 12th\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=365220\"\u003eMath\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e11 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543647\"\u003eInstructional Videos\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='preview-source' data-animation='true' data-boundary='.rp-info' data-container='.rp-resource-details' data-html='false' data-title='Mr. Beat is a social studies teacher who specializes in making history and geography more engaging through entertaining and easy to understand videos.' data-trigger='hover focus'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eMr. Beat\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-circle-info channel-tooltip-icon' id='channel-tooltip'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2017\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eLanguage\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eEnglish\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eUsage Permissions\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eFine Print: Educational Use\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-materials-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-materials-heading'\u003eAdditional Materials\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='additional-material'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-lock'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"text-muted\" title=\"Video Transcript\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003eVideo Transcript\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='additional-material'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-lock'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"text-muted\" title=\"Video Preview\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003eVideo Preview\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator5c54d75fd8eafeecae20b591' data-type='concepts'\u003eliberia, americans, countries, time\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator5c54d75fd8eafeecae20b591'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator5c54d75fd8eafeecae20b591' data-type='keyterms'\u003emetric system, idea, video, country, adopt, doctor thunder, official, officially adopted, world, mr. beat, history, people, rest, measuring system, fact, hard, french, mian mar, transition, 3 countries, page, united states\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator5c54d75fd8eafeecae20b591'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='classroom-considerations-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='classroom-considerations-heading'\u003eClassroom Considerations\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='classroom-considerations'\u003e\u003cdiv class='fai fa-solid fa-bell'\u003e\u003c/div\u003eBest For: Explaining a topic\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class='classroom-considerations'\u003e\u003cdiv class='fai fa-solid fa-bell'\u003e\u003c/div\u003eVideo is ad-free\u003c/div\u003e \n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: Why Don\u0026#39;t the U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia Use the Metric System?\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"Why Don\u0026#39;t the U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia Use the Metric System?\" title=\"Why Don\u0026#39;t the U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia Use the Metric System?\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/1776261/thumbnail/entry_id/0_ub72sb4n/width/250/vid_slices/3/vid_slice/1\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}