Cause And Effects Of Pearl Harbor

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, at 7:55 AM the Japanese Empire led a surprise attack on the US Naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, that would leave millions of Americans in shock, and heartbroken. Before the attack, the United States kept a low profile on International affairs, and concentrated on the domestic affairs at hand. This tragic moment in American history forever remembered. It is a mournful day for the American people, although, for the Japanese Empire it was an honorable day, one they would call a

Fighting a war against the oppression and persecution of a people, how hypocritical of the American government to harass and punish those based on their heritage. Magnifying the already existing dilemma of discrimination, the bombing of Pearl Harbor introduced Japanese-Americans to the harsh and unjust treatment they were forced to confront for a lifetime to come. Wakatsuki Ko, after thirty-five years of residence in the United States, was still prevented by law from becoming an American citizen.

It wasn’t very long after Pearl Harbor that we succumbed to fear of the Japanese here in America, thinking they were spies, and still loyal their ancestral land. Sadly, even our president Roosevelt succumbed to this, in which he signed executive order 9066 which authorized the relocation of all Japanese citizens here in America to internment camps where they would spend 4 years of their life, and lose their homes, valuables, lifes savings,businesses, and much more. Japanese Americans were taken by bus and train to assembly centers such as racetracks and fairgrounds, after this there were camps were created in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. Over 127,000 United States citizens were imprisoned during World War II because

“Our military thought that they couldn't get to Pearl Harbor, that it was too long a journey from Japan to get there, and they proved us wrong”- Jerry Bruckheimer. This quote helps explains that the United States thought that Japan could not get to the United States.

On December 7,1941 Japan raided the airbases across the islands of Pearl Harbour. The “sneak attack” targeted the United States Navy. It left 2400 army personnel dead and over a thousand Americans wounded. U.S. Navy termed it as “one of the great defining moments in history”1 President Roosevelt called it as “A Day of Infamy”. 2 As this attack shook the nation and the Japanese Americans became the immediate ‘focal point’. At that moment approximately 112,000 Persons of Japanese descent resided in coastal areas of Oregon, Washington and also in California and Arizona.3

When Pearl Harbor was hit they removed 5,000 Japanese-Americans from the U.S. army on December, 19412. They army took away Japanese-American rights as citizens, by not allowing them to be apart of the United States Army. The selective services renamed them “enemy aliens” and stopped the draft of Japanese-American citizens. Military officials denied Japanese-Americans citizenships. December 7th, 19412, FBI arrested selected Japanese-American nationals on the West coast, they never returned home. They never got to say goodbye to their family until after six years, when the war was over.

Japanese-American’s before World War II were treated not good but not bad in the United States, even at the start of the war they were still treated the same. It wasn’t until the Japanese’s attack on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor that everything changed for them. They were looked down on and that they were un-American to most Americans at the time and were treated very poorly. They were forced to live in a interment camp throughout the duration of the war and work there. No one really cared that they were being brought to camps to live except for some people that would eventually help them while their time in the camp and donate to them. The American government actions after this event changed every Japanese-Americans life forever.

Throughout the 1940’s race relations in the United States changed, some for the worse and others for the better. The Japanese, Mexican, German, Italian, and Chinese-Americans all saw differences in the way Americans treated them. On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese-American population in the United States had their entire lives and identities stripped away from them. That day, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which contained a large naval base. “The attack resulted in what many consider the worst defeat in U.S. military history…2,403 people were killed.”

After all the pain the government caused the Japanese Americans, and years of hope and waiting, the newfound soldiers still had a burning desire to fight for and protect the country that once betrayed them. They did not only do this for their family, but also because they admired the country they lived in and everything it stood for, even though so much pain was inflicted on their people. In the end, the victims of the internment camps simply wanted to do what was right for the United States. Most Japanese Americans began to feel guilty and ashamed of Japan’s actions towards the United States. So, instead of helping or worshiping Japan’s foul actions, many Japanese Americans took action by sending care packages to Pearl Harbor and even “started to buy war bonds,” and “[take] first aid classes with the rest of the [Caucasian] people in the community" in order to prepare for another possible attack (Heinrichs, 22). Despite the dedication the Japanese Americans had for the United States, the idea that they were a threat and untrustworthy was a tough stereotype to break for most US

Before pearl harbor, Japanese Americans contributed greatly to America. They obeyed laws and were friendly and trusted people. After pearl harbor, and the rumor that there were Japanese spies, their reputations were ruined. Many lost their homes and businesses. They were sent to internment camps where many died or were treated horribly.

It wasn’t very long after Pearl Harbor that we succumbed to fear of the Japanese here in America, thinking they were spies, and still loyal their ancestral land. Sadly, even our president Roosevelt succumbed to this, in which he signed executive order 9066 which authorized the relocation of all Japanese citizens here in America to internment camps where they would spend 4 years of their life, and lose their homes, valuables, lifes savings,businesses, and much more. Japanese Americans were taken by bus and train to assembly centers such as racetracks and fairgrounds, after this there were camps were created in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. Over 127,000 United States citizens were imprisoned during World War II because

Almost immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor tension was created between Japanese-American Citizens and the U.S. government. Internment camps were set up across the nation to stand as a new home for these Japanese-American citizens. Japanese with as little as 1/6th blood relation were given only one week to pack their things and settle all affairs. (PBS.org). Children were to be drawn out of school, jobs had to be left immediately, and any belongings left behind would be sold cheaply to the public. Some Japanese-American families saw that they would be forced into internment camps, and chose to leave the West Coast voluntarily before being forced too (From Citizen to Enemy). These American citizens were suddenly being treated as a major threat to their own country. Not all relationships between the Japanese and the rest of the U.S. population were this bad though. Many citizens were very close with the Japanese who were being forced into internment all around them, and they tried to help in any ways that they could. This aftermath of Pearl Harbor had devastating affects on the Japanese-American population that would last for centuries, and the U.S. government has made numerous steps to try and apologize for the horrific mistake that was made years ago. Although this time was a very sad and confusing

When the Japanese attacked the naval base in Pearl Harbor, immediately, a phobia of the Japanese people spread through the country like wildfire. In response to these phobias and so-called “concerns” from the people, the government forced Japanese-Americans to move into internment camps where families were split up, Japanese people were stripped of jobs, and not only that, the Japanese-Americans had their constitutional rights taken away from them. This method of “protection” of the people destroyed relations with the Japanese people and proved to be futile in the end. Not one death of an American person was ever caused by a true Japanese-American. In spite of these unfavorable circumstances, the Japanese-Americans continued to show strong faith in the American government by enlisting in the army and finding other ways to support in the war effort.

“Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. We will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt). Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered this speech, to the people of America, After the attack of Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor was attacked by 353 Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes that were launched from 6 aircraft carriers. The Attack By the Japanese naval and air forces resulted in 3581 casualties, 188 aircraft destroyed, and three cruisers, 3

“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won’t” said General George S. Patton, whenever the attack on Pearl Harbor happened (Allen). That was not an easy time in history. World War I was long gone and now World War II was happening, once again the whole world lost its mutual peace. Luckily, for a while, the U.S.A was not involved. Our economy was not doing very well in the late 1930’s by any means! Then on December 7 of 1941, the day of the attack on our homeland, thousands of service members died and our fleet of navy ships in Hawaii was crippled. A pivotal event in American history, Pearl Harbor was a cause of relocation camps and America’s entrance into World War II.