Metrication

Metrication, or metrification, is the process of converting from the various other systems of units used throughout the world to the metric or SI (Système International) system. This process was begun in France in the 1790's and spread over the following two centuries to all but four countries, representing 95% of the world's population. The process was completed in most of the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries, replacing numerous historical weights and measures. The countries of the former British Empire completed metrification during the second half of the 20th century, with Ireland recently completing metrication on 20th January 2005. Today only the UK, U.S., Liberia and Burma (Myanmar) have not fully metricated, although Liberia and Myanmar use it in practice and the UK is currently in the process of conversion. Only France, the US, UK and Japan saw any large scale popular opposition to metrication, the main objections being based on tradition, aesthetics and distaste for a 'foreign' system.

Opposition

:See main article: Anti-metric arguments and counter-arguments

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Few countries experience much popular opposition to metrication. Many, such as 19th-century Europe, Russia, India and China, converted before most of their populations were literate, and so the initial conversion affected few people. For others, such as Ireland, the previous system was also seen as foreign and unloved. France initially did experience some popular opposition in the 1790s, particularly to the metrication of time, which was thus dropped from the scheme. Japan also saw popular resistance to their 1920's metrication program, where opponents of the metric system believed that the adoption of a foreign measuring system would have a bad influence on national sentiment, cause dislocations in public life, needless expense to the nation, prove disadvantageous to foreign trade, and hurt the national language and culture. In 1933 the government postponed the date of conversion of the first stage by five years, and the date of the second stage by ten years. The process was not finally completed until 1969.

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The UK and U.S. have seen the greatest opposition movements. Many in the UK see it as the imposition of a foreign system and to be connected with other unpopular ideas from mainland Europe, such as the EU, the Euro and driving on the right. The "metric martyrs" were shop owners in the UK who were sent to jail for refusing to label their goods in metric measurements. Complaints against the metric system are mainly based on tradition and aesthetics. In the United States there is resistance to the prospect of a ban on traditional units as well as to what is seen as a foreign system.

Related Topics:
EU - Euro - Driving on the right - Metric martyrs

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