<P> The U.S. Metric Study recommended that the United States implement a carefully planned transition to the principal use of the metric system over a decade . Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 `` to coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States '' . Voluntary conversion was initiated , and the United States Metric Board ( USMB ) was established for planning , coordination , and public education . The public education component led to public awareness of the metric system , but the public response included resistance , apathy , and sometimes ridicule . In 1981 the USMB reported to Congress that it lacked the clear Congressional mandate necessary to bring about national conversion . Because of this ineffectiveness and an effort of the Reagan administration -- particularly from Lyn Nofziger 's efforts as a White House advisor to the Reagan administration , to reduce federal spending -- the USMB was disbanded in the autumn of 1982 . </P>
<P> The U.S. Metric Study recommended that the United States implement a carefully planned transition to the principal use of the metric system over a decade . Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 `` to coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States '' . Voluntary conversion was initiated , and the United States Metric Board ( USMB ) was established for planning , coordination , and public education . The public education component led to public awareness of the metric system , but the public response included resistance , apathy , and sometimes ridicule . In 1981 the USMB reported to Congress that it lacked the clear Congressional mandate necessary to bring about national conversion . Because of this ineffectiveness and an effort of the Reagan administration -- particularly from Lyn Nofziger 's efforts as a White House advisor to the Reagan administration , to reduce federal spending -- the USMB was disbanded in the autumn of 1982 . </P>
when did the us try to go metric
when did the us try to go metric
1975
1975