Violations In Japanese Internment Camps

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the internment of Japanese Americans on the West coast of the United States. On going tension between the United States and Japan rose in the 1930’s due to Japan’s increasing power and because of this tension the bombing at Pearl Harbor occurred. This event then led the United States to join World War II. However it was the Executive Order of 9066 that officially led to the internment of Japanese Americans. Japanese Americans, some legal and illegal residents, were moved into internment camps between 1942-1946. The internment of Japanese Americans affected not only these citizens but the

Following the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, racial tensions increased in the United States, especially on the West Coast (Divine 898). The anti-Japanese sentiment led to President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, which gave military officials the power to limit the civil rights of Japanese Americans (Danzer 802). The order also authorized the forced relocation of all Japanese Americans to concentration camps (Divine 898). These camps were located in desolate deserts and flatlands in the interior of the United States (Sato 67). Two thirds of the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forced to relocate were “Nisei”, or native born American citizens (Divine 898).

     Another factor in the case is racism. Japanese-Americans were subjected to discrimination from the government even before the United States’ entrance into WWII. Five days before the executive order that allowed for removal of Japanese from the west coast, Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt speculated the possibility of the Japanese-Americans acting against the U.S., saying that “the very fact that no sabotage has taken place to date is a disturbing and confirming indication that such action will be taken” (RTAP, 119). This created a no-win situation for the Japanese-Americans because if they did not act against the U.S., it was still thought that inevitably would. Japanese were denied citizenship before the war, as well (RTAP, 121). Inside the camps, the loyalty questionnaires forced them to either renounce both their allegiance to

The imprisonment of Japanese Americans occurred because of their Japanese ancestry. The fear of the Japanese, also known as Anti-Japanese Paranoia, was a direct result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many Americans feared that Japanese descendants would remain loyal to and side with their home country (Japanese American Internment, 2008). The brink of war being just around the corner clouded American minds and led to quick decisions. America was paralyzed by fear in the midst of another World War, just years after the first. Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt wrote, “The Japanese race is an enemy race, and while many second and third generation Japanese born on United States soil, possessed of United States citizenship, have become ‘Americanized,’ the racial strains are undiluted.” Like DeWitt, many Americans felt that all Japanese Americans were a threat, especially the Issei and Nisei. “Literally speaking, the Japanese terms Issei,

Startled by the surprise attack on their naval base at Pearl Harbor and anxious about a full-fledged Japanese attack on the United States’ West Coast, American government officials targeted all people of Japanese descent, regardless of their citizenship status, occupation, or demonstrated loyalty to the US. As my grandfather—Frank Matsuura, a nisei born in Los Angeles, California and interned in the Granada War Relocation Center (Camp Amache)—often

When the Japanese Americans migrated to the United States they were not welcomed with open arms. The Japanese Americans faced many hardships. The biggest hardships they faced were their treatment by the American people as well as by the American government after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and placed in internment camps for years with little to no explanation as to why. According to the United States government the Japanese Americans placement in internment camps “were justified on national security grounds” (Brooks), but the truth is Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps because of fear and racial prejudice. This event in history is important because it

The relocation of Japanese Americans was an event that occurred within the United States during World War II. On February 19th, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which forced all Japanese Americans living in the West Coast to be evacuated from the area and relocated to internment camps all across the United States, where they would be imprisoned. Approximately 120,000 people were sent to the camps and the event lasted through the years 1942 and 1945. The main cause of the relocation and internment of these people was because of fear made among Japanese people after Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. Citizens of the United States had been worrying about the possibility of Japanese residents of the country aiding Japan, and/or secretly trying to destroy American companies.

Long before the start of WWII, American's felt that the Japanese posed a threat to their way of living. Whites in western states and territories viewed the Japanese immigrants as a source of economic competition. The immigration act of 1924 banned Japanese from entering the U.S. and created a hostile and discriminate

After the Japanese attack on the United States military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the United States declared war against Japan. Four days later, Hitler declared war on the United States and the country officially entered World War II as an “arsenal of democracy,” in the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. While fighting against totalitarian ideologies abroad, at home, the United States upheld and increased the civil liberties of African Americans in some ways while violating those of Japanese Americans.

All the camps had schools, hospitals, libraries and even post offices, but most of these were built by the people living in those camps. A large amount of Japanese Americans died due to inadequate medical care while others were killed by guards for not following the rules. It was all as in a prison there was guard towers, barbed wire and the people didn’t have the right to leave whenever they wanted if they did try to leave or escape they would be shot and killed. Their life was extremely restricted.

On February 19th, 1942 President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. What this order did was authorize the war department to designate military areas and exclude anyone from them who they felt was a danger or a threat. Its specific target without being obvious was Japanese Americans. This was just a little over 2 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Over 110,000 Japanese Americans living along the West Coast would soon be ordered to enter Internment Camps. The government had also ordered Italian and German immigrants living in the United States to be sent to the camps as well. According to PBS there was a plan drawn up in Washington to include all 158,000 Japanese people living in Hawaii to be sent to the camps as well. Wealthy land

It was a fight to see if all Japanese families living in the U.S. were loyal to them or their Japanese Government. Even though there were some American born Japanese people, they were still not trusted by the U.S. government. They were all enemies in the eyes of the Americans. Just by having the bloodline of the Japanese in America, they were considered as outcast. Roosevelt signed an order to have all Japanese people isolated all together and away from everyone. There were ten camp sites that would hold more than 100,000 Japanese Americans. All the Japanese were forced to live in these internment camps during World War II.

There had been a growing outcry from the public and leaders for something to be done to reduce the increasingly growing number of Japanese immigrants in the West Coast. Subsequent regulations placed on the Japanese in the United States made them aggravated. There was serious trouble brewing between the United States and Japan until the Japanese carried out attacks on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor there was increased spread of propaganda from the press and local leaders against the people with Japanese roots. There were numerous calls to the Congress and President Roosevelt for removal of the Japanese from the Pacific Coast. On the 19th day of February 1942, President Roosevelt issued the Executive Order Number 9066 (Wheeler, Becker and Glover 244). The Executive Order authorized the evacuation of the Issei and Missei. About 120000 individuals of Japanese ancestry, both citizens and non-citizens were evacuated from the West Coast in what Lt. General John DeWitt said was compelled by “military necessity” (Wheeler, Becker and Glover 244). The most convincing and reliable evidence reveals that the removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor did not meet the “clear and present danger” test. I do not agree with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Two months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which ordered all Japanese-American citizens to relocate. This was primarily because rumors spread, which encouraged race prejudice. Without any solid evidence, Japanese Americans suspected of remaining loyal to their ancestral land (Japan). Anti-Japanese paranoia spread across the nation. People feared that in the event of a Japanese invasion, Japanese-Americans would defend Japan rather than the United States. Consequently, some 120,000 people (who were American citizens) moved unknowingly to one of 10 internment camps across the United

After the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, life in the U.S. had changed. It was the first time in a long time that America was attacked on its homeland. This national security threat was a big shock to the people. The Japanese had to suffer the consequences of their attack. Just as the Germans developed concentration camps for the Jewish during World War II, the Americans set up "relocation" programs better known as internment camps to keep all the Japanese. The reason the Japanese were moved into these camps was because they were suspected of being spies. They were forced to live there for up to four years and were not able to continue with their own lives as they were before while they were living in these camps.