Daylight Saving Time

This morning, on the east coast of the United States, the clocks will add an hour, going from 2 AM to 3 AM.  This morning, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the clocks will remain the same.  Thus, there is currently a one hour difference between the two areas.

Why will the clocks change in the US?

Some say British builder William Willet was the architect of Daylight Saving Time which encouraged advancing clocks in the spring so people could get out of bed earlier. Longer and lighter days were supposed to save energy, reduce traffic accidents and help people become more active.

The United States, adopted summer Daylight Saving Time during World War I to conserve fuel by reducing the need for artificial light.  During World War II, clocks were kept continuously advanced by an hour in the United States from February 9, 1942, to September 30, 1945.

In the United States, Daylight Saving Time formerly began on the last Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. 

In 1986 the U.S. Congress passed a law that, beginning the following year, moved up the start of Daylight Saving Time to the first Sunday in April but kept its end date the same. 

In 2007 Daylight Saving Time changed again in the United States, as the start date was moved to the second Sunday in March and the end date to the first Sunday in November. 

In Brazil, former President Jair Bolsonaro eliminated Daylight Saving Time.

There's an old joke that farmers oppose Daylight Saving Time because their crops would get too much sun light.