The Influence Of Japanese Migration

During the later half of the 19th century, Japan was rapidly growing their imperial power across Asia. As soon as Japan was seen as an imperial country, the United States started to reevaluate its trade relationship with Japan. The United States stopped all sale of material that would have been beneficial towards Japanese expansion , angering Japan. Later, on December 7, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy had attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On February 19, 1942, president Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 9066, ordering the internment of people of Japanese heritage. The executive order was determined by economic issues, national security threats and, the most influential, racism towards Japanese.

The late 19th century marked a new chapter in American Capitalism. Hawaii and California were both looking for cheap laborers to fuel their new system at this time, and American planters found their answer in Chinese and Japanese immigrants. Even though Chinese and Japanese immigrants both flocked to America, the two countries had different reasons for leaving their homes. American laborers, on the other hand, were appalled by the surplus of laborers and demanded the government to monitor these Asian immigrants. While capitalism pulled Chinese and Japanese people in search of wealth to America, the American government held a strong grip on those that were allowed into the country.

Japanese immigrants and the following generations had to endure discrimination, racism, and prejudice from white Americans. Two months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the United States government to forcibly removed thousands of Japanese-American citizens who lived on the West Coast. They would relocate them to concentration camps in remote parts of Arizona, California, Idaho, and other states in the West because of an unfair reason from white Americans due to fear and ignorance. The relocation of Japanese-Americans into internment camps was one of the most flagrant violations of civil liberties in American history. Approximately, 130,000 Japanese immigrants were relocated to these interment camps, lost their businesses, forced to give up their homes and assets in addition to their freedom. Most of the population were long-standing immigrants (Issei) who arrived before 1924 or American-born children of immigrants (Nisei) who were solid members of the community and loyal to their country.

Japan is a small island nation off the coast of Eastern Asia. Despite its size, Japan has proved to be formidable both economically and militarily. Since the expedition of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853 opened up the past feudalistic and reclusive Japan, this nation has expanded and adopted many imperialistic policies as well as taken a more aggressive military stance. Japan has changed in many ways, but has also continued upholding traditional practices throughout 1853 and 1941.

The Great Migration brought about a massive redistribution of the African American population throughout the United States. It transformed black ways of life, art, and institutions, as well as the demographics and cultures of many American cities.

In the 1880’s, America began seeing the first Japanese immigrants arrive in the Pacific Northwest. The Japanese came to this country searching for a better life. Many hoped to begin a new life in America where they could raise their families. There were others who came here merely to earn and save money only to return to Japan later on. The Japanese people who began their lives in America experienced little racism and discrimination, that is, before December 7th, 1941 when the country of Japan bombed the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After this event, the Japanese-American people’s lives would change dramatically.

Thomas Jefferson believed that expanding westward was the key to a healthy nation. Forty percent of the population lived in trans -Appalachian west. Most people had left their homes from the East for a economic opportunity.

We were weeding and cutting trees at Hālawa Valley to walk up to see the pohaku. I learned how Native Hawaiians took care of their land, mālama ‘āina, and how they live together with the nature sources. Even the pohaku with carvings, as Native Hawaiian people did not carve the shape, but they carved additional parts. For instance, when Native Hawaiian people found the pohaku, which shape is similar to Kū, they added Kū’s hat and eye, which are missed. When they found the turtle shaped pohaku, they added eye to complete the shape. Native Hawaiian people did not cut down all the trees, but rather cut some, so that the plants don’t get overgrown. However, this sacred place got ruined by building H3. H3 divided sacred birth place for Native

The evacuation of Japanese-American’s in the West Coast is seen as one of the darkest times in American history. The rising tension between the United States and Japan, leading up to the Attack on Pearl Harbor, made the decision for the evacuation much easier. Military and political motives both played a vital role in the action to separate Japanese-Americans from the rest of society during the 1940s. The purpose plays a very large role in the constitutionality of each case, as one has a stronger case than the other. Regardless if the evacuation was constitutional or not, the morality of it is still the same.

The “Japanese-American Relocation,” authored by Dori Felice Moss, details the experiences within the internment camps of Rohwer and Jerome in Arkansas. Japanese-Americans had to leave their homes, friends, personal belongings, and family to live in squalor, crowded conditions. Recollections were accounted from those who were sent to an internment camp in which many stated that being labeled as disloyal citizens was the most difficult thing during the relocation process. However, throughout the process, those relocated were able to quickly adjust to life within the camp and attempt to maintain a normal life. There was religious, editorial freedom, education, and visitors in camp which helped to diminish the harsh internment barriers. The article describes similar themes that occurred during the relocation of Indian tribes in which they were sent to reservations where they would then be more easily controlled and monitored by the government. The Indians, as well as the Japanese-Americans, were perceived as cultural threats and were, therefore, subjected to forced segregation.

The nature of western migration was good and bad. With out western migration America wouldn’t be what it is now. But if we had found a different way to deal with the Indians it could have happened with less blood shed. We could have upheld our part of the treats with the Indians. We could have found a way to live with them instead of kicking them out. Then we would have been able to use the knowledge they have since they lived there for so long. But the increase in western migration kicked the indians out of their land.

There are two phases that Japanese community undergoes in the United States. In the first phase, as the United States steadily progresses in the 19th century, there was a rise in the arrivals of the immigrants in particularly the Japanese Immigrants, which are found to have migrated to Hawaii and subsequently the west coast area in the States for better opportunities. Although it was quite difficult for Japanese immigrants to take up the citizenship, the offsprings of these immigrants that were born in the United States were considered citizens. The second phase begins at the start of the World War II that resulted in the relocation and internment camps for the Japanese-Americans.

From 1639, Japan kept control on emigration of its people to Europe and to its colonies. But soon after the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853, trade of gunships started between the United States and Japan (USA.gov). This exposed Japanese to another culture, which had an impact on their life. This resulted in a great change of social life in Japan because life in America represented a model way and motivated Japanese to migrate there.

Westernization, which primarily spread in the mid to late 19th century, brought forth a profound change of ideas and cultures across the world. Both Japan and India were affected greatly as Western practices and ideologies seeped into the minds of individuals throughout various societies. Influential individuals, such as Thomas Babington Macaulay and Fukuzawa Yukichi wished to reform India and Japan by introducing Western ideas into these countries. Artists such as Honda Kinkachiro and Werner Forman showed the effects of Westernization on Japan. Through the writings and artwork of Macaulay, Yukichi, Kinkachiro, and Forman, we are able to understand that Europe’s colonizing mentality, as well as Asia’s acceptance of new ideas, were both supported by the belief that the West is superior.

Many people migrate from one country to another or within a country. There are different reasons why people migrate and there are also things that can stop humans from moving, humans signify it as barriers. Many people have complex issues mentally and physically when they migrate, there are also factors that attract or drive out people from a place.