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In this article, Kenlee explains the unique historical background of Daylight Savings Time, objectively informing readers of the positives and negatives, enabling them to form their own opinions on the practice.
spring forward
spring forward
By: Kenlee Rapport
By: Kenlee Rapport
Snoozing the alarm clock extra, waking up more tired than usual, and getting confused by the time on phones. Does this sound familiar? Daylight Savings Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Most people are aware of this annual occurrence that marks the changing of seasons, but the motivation behind it is unknown. Different assumptions regarding the origin of this event tend to spread, and the real cause is hidden behind misinformation.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the United States' founding fathers, was the first to mention a concept similar to DTS. 1n 1784, Franklin published a satirical essay in Parisian magazine Journal De Paris, in which The Franklin Institute explains that he humorously suggested that Parisians should change their sleep schedules to save money on candles and lamp oil. This argument was taken more earnestly by New Zealand entomologist George Hudson. According to the BBC, he took into account the hours of sun, due to his intense fervor for the study of insects. Hudson took up a job as a postal clerk and realized that more insects were flourishing than he had available daylight hours to study. He then proposed in 1895 to shift the clock back two hours during the summer, arguing that it would make use of a long period of daylight leisure (his bug-collecting passion). This would benefit all classes that spent arduous hours working inside. Hudson's proposal failed at the time, but his original idea was not abandoned. Builder William Willet noticed that, on his morning horseback rides to work, all the cottages designated for workers were shuttered. Similar to Hudson, Willet believed moving back summertime hours meant people could start their day earlier and have more leisure time to enjoy after work. Willet presented the concept in 1908 to move clocks back 20 minutes in the summertime, yet his idea was not accepted by the government until 1916.
A Picture Of George Hudson's Insect Illustration By: Fine Rare Prints Antique And Map
Picture By: Colorado News
Germany was the first to impose this policy in the midst of World War I. Germans were motivated to save energy during the war because more sunlight meant less fuel and the ability to work later in the day. Public data site USA Facts expands on how Germany set its clocks back by one consecutive hour as a wartime energy-saving measure. The discussion of DTS globally alternated, and multiple European countries followed in pursuing the policy.
The United States joined the bandwagon with the Standard Time Act of 1918, which established time change and national time zones. The act was repealed after World War I ended, enacted again in 1942, repealed in 1945, and then, in 1966, the Uniform Time Act reestablished time change. After political back and forth on this matter, in 2005, the Energy Policy Act was established. This act extended Daylight Savings by a few weeks. As of 2026, 48 states and Washington D.C. recognize Daylight Savings. Only two states remain in standard time: Arizona and Hawaii. Functionally, the amount of daylight varies by location, with Northern cities getting darker in the winter and the West having winters with later sunrises and sunsets.
With Daylight Savings having been established for multiple decades, studies have shown consequences and benefits to humans. Britannica explores both sides of the argument regarding whether we should keep Daylight Saving Time or not. Starting with pros, it is proven to lower crime rates, since they are easier to spot during the day, and there is less darkness, when crimes tend to take place. It makes driving safer and lowers the chance of accidentally hitting pedestrians, since more daylight is available. For business and the economy, the practice serves as a plus, since later daylight means more people shopping after work, whether it might be at retail stores, restaurants, or gas stations. Therefore, Daylight Savings increases the overall profits for businesses, encouraging more people to shop. One might also claim that it improves health and activity levels. Sun aids the body, improving happiness levels and, along with exercising, improves mental/physical health.
On the other side, Daylight Savings scientifically goes against the body's natural sleep cycle (the circadian rhythm). When this cycle is altered, the internal body clock gets disrupted, affecting body systems. For some people who are prone to medical issues, the disruption of sleep is been proven to negatively impact people's health, especially increasing the risk of heart attacks. The practice has been shown to drop productivity levels for the week after spring forward; people are sleep-deprived and unmotivated to get work done. Lastly, it is argued that the United States loses $1.7 billion dollars due to the time spent on adjusting all the clocks.
Picture By: Harvard Health
Whether supported or not, Daylight Savings Time has a unique history that serves a purpose in the eyes of an insect collector, builder, and the state. The annual choice for states to maintain standard time or keep Daylight Savings is complicated for both the people and the state. With this information, hopefully, readers are able to make educated voting decisions in the future.
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