Japanese InternmentJapanese Internment

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Pearl Harbor’s Impact on the Pearl Harbor’s Impact on the JapaneseJapanese

Anti-Japanese Anti-Japanese sentiments have sentiments have existed in the United existed in the United States for several States for several decades prior to the decades prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. attack on Pearl Harbor.

During that time, more During that time, more than 119,000 people of than 119,000 people of Japanese ancestry, two-Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them American thirds of them American citizens, were living in citizens, were living in California, Washington, California, Washington, and Oregon. and Oregon.

(www.usatoday.com/.../contenttemplate14.htm)

The attack of Pearl Harbor shocked the American public, resulting in widespread hysteria and paranoia. ..

The unannounced attack at Pearl Harbor was presented to the American populace as an act of treachery and cowardice.

Anti-Japanese Sentiment and Propaganda followed:

EX: many non-governmental "Jap hunting licenses" were circulated around the country.

What was it?A faux-official document, button or medallion that purported to authorize "open season" on "hunting" the Japanese, despite the fact that over a quarter of a million Americans at that time were of Japanese origin.

Some reminded holders that there was "no limit" on the number of "Japs" they could "hunt or trap".

These "licenses" often characterized Japanese people as sub-human.

Many of the “Jap Hunting Licenses”, for example, depicted the Japanese in

animalistic fashion.

Anti-Japanese SentimentAnti-Japanese SentimentBugs Bunny and Nips the Bugs Bunny and Nips the

NipsNips

Nip - offensive term for a person of Japanese descent.

*short for Nipponese (means "Japanese,“) – 1859*from Nippon, Japanese word for "Japan”

Dec 8Dec 8thth Speech by FDR Speech by FDR ""The facts of yesterday speak for The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the themselves. The people of the United States have already United States have already formed formed their opinionstheir opinions and well understand and well understand the implications to the very life and the implications to the very life and safety of our nationsafety of our nation."."The The opinionsopinions that Roosevelt that Roosevelt mentions are the anti-Japanese mentions are the anti-Japanese sentiments that were an sentiments that were an immediate reaction to the immediate reaction to the surprise attackssurprise attacks

Opinion in US Military Opinion in US Military – – Lt Gen. John DeWittLt Gen. John DeWitt Repeatedly told newspapers that "Repeatedly told newspapers that "A A

Jap's a JapJap's a Jap" and testified to Congress:" and testified to Congress:I don't want any of them [persons of Japanese ancestry] here. They are a dangerous element. There is no way to determine their loyalty... It makes no difference whether he is an American citizen, he is still a Japanese. American citizenship does not necessarily determine loyalty... But we must worry about the Japanese all the time until he is wiped off the map.

Later Later administered administered the Japanese the Japanese internment internment programprogram

Fear of Japanese disloyalty (SPIES) towards the United States was common among many Americans.

Terms: (Japanese Language)Terms: (Japanese Language)– IsseiIssei: : those born in Japan, those born in Japan,

regarded by the U.S. regarded by the U.S. government government as ineligible for as ineligible for U.S. citizenship and could U.S. citizenship and could not own landnot own land

– Nisei:Nisei: those born to Japan those born to Japan parents, thus U.S. citizens.parents, thus U.S. citizens.

A 1942 poll reflected the feelings of American citizens towards the Japanese. "Japanese [...] were said to be 'treacherous, sly, cruel, and warlike' though also 'hardworking and intelligent'“Several positive aspects of Japanese AmericansBUT the negative comments were overwhelming and reflected the views of the majority of Americans at the time. Japanese Americans were instantly considered to be dangerous as they were expected to take part in sabotage or espionage for Axis Powers.

America’s THOUGHT and FEAR – Japan would attack again

Events Leading to Events Leading to InternmentInternment

After the Japanese attacked Pearl After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Harbor that very day – prominent that very day – prominent Japanese leaders were rounded up Japanese leaders were rounded up by FBIby FBI Ransacked houses Ransacked houses – radios, cameras – radios, cameras

(any type of corroboration with Japan)(any type of corroboration with Japan) 12001200 detained detained withwithOUTOUT charges charges Japanese response – Japanese response – burnburn personal personal

items (pictures, letters) from Japanitems (pictures, letters) from Japan

Opposition of the Relocation Opposition of the Relocation for American Japanesefor American Japanese

The Japanese Americans showed that they The Japanese Americans showed that they were were true patriots true patriots by joining up and reciting by joining up and reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” and singing the “Pledge of Allegiance” and singing patriotic songs such as “The Star-Spangled patriotic songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner”.Banner”.

Why go willing?Why go willing? ““We wanted to show Americans we We wanted to show Americans we

aren’t dangerous peoplearen’t dangerous people””

AND THEY LOST EVERYTHINGAND THEY LOST EVERYTHING

Answer - protection against Answer - protection against espionage and sabotage espionage and sabotage

(national defense) of (national defense) of material, premises, and material, premises, and

utilitiesutilities

Look at the HomeworkLook at the Homework

1) What was the rationale (reasoning) of the internment camps?

2) What will the Federal Government provide?

1)1) TransportationTransportation2)2) FoodFood3)3) Shelter and other Shelter and other

necessary necessary accommodationsaccommodations

4)4) Medical Aid and Medical Aid and HospitalizationHospitalization

5)5) ClothingClothing6)6) Use of landUse of land7)7) Supplies, equipment, Supplies, equipment,

utilities, facilities, and utilities, facilities, and servicesservices

President Franklin D. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066 in February Order No. 9066 in February of 1942. of 1942.

Empowered the U.S. Army Empowered the U.S. Army to to designate areas designate areas from from which "any or all persons which "any or all persons may be excluded." may be excluded."

Had 10 days toHad 10 days to::– Register familyRegister family– Prepare to leave their Prepare to leave their

homeshomes

110,000 surrendered to 110,000 surrendered to Assembly CentersAssembly Centers40% children 40% children

70% WERE AMERICAN 70% WERE AMERICAN CITIZENSCITIZENS

Those of Japanese Those of Japanese ancestry living on the ancestry living on the West Coast (Washington, West Coast (Washington, Oregon, California) were Oregon, California) were to be relocated away to be relocated away from West Coastfrom West Coast

WHO and WHERE? WHO and WHERE? March 18, 1942March 18, 1942

The president signs Executive The president signs Executive Order 9102 establishing the Order 9102 establishing the War War Relocation AuthorityRelocation Authority (WRA) (WRA) with Milton Eisenhower as with Milton Eisenhower as director.director.

Create 10 sitesCreate 10 sites

Internment Camp Locations

http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/images/photodb/23-0306a.gifJapanese near trains during Relocation 

Internment refers to the forced

imprisonment and relocation of a

group of people.

How the Internment was How the Internment was Viewed…Concentration Viewed…Concentration

CampsCamps Ones who were for the internment Ones who were for the internment

simply called internees “residents”, simply called internees “residents”, but Roosevelt privately referred the but Roosevelt privately referred the camps as “concentration camps”.camps as “concentration camps”.

Many who were against the Many who were against the internment called it prejudice and internment called it prejudice and called them concentration camps called them concentration camps publicly against the War Relocation publicly against the War Relocation Authority.Authority.

So, let’s take a look at life in one So, let’s take a look at life in one of these Internment Campsof these Internment Camps

(www.trumanlibrary.org/.../20-2311a.htm)

Excerpt from Lillian Hanansushi, “My Life”

Then [there was] that fatal day of Dec. 7, 1941. Japan declared war on the United States. It seemed impossible for me for I never dreamed of war coming to the United States. The day after the war began I did not want to go to school for I felt my Caucasian and Negro friends would dislike me, but they told me not to feel so bad, for it was not I who declared the war. So school [went] on very smoothly…I attended high school for a short time because evacuation orders were being given out by the government. Many Japanese Americans said it was unfair to them because they were American citizens who had the right of any other American citizen. But I didn’t mind because I would go anywhere my parents would go.

War Relocation Authority(WRA) War Relocation Authority(WRA) CentersCenters

Life in Internment CampsLife in Internment Camps

“…“…families lived in families lived in substandard housing, substandard housing, had inadequate had inadequate nutrition and health nutrition and health care, and had their care, and had their livelihoods livelihoods destroyed: many destroyed: many continued to suffer continued to suffer psychologically long psychologically long after their release" after their release"

- Report of the Commission - Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians" Internment of Civilians"

(www.trumanlibrary.org/.../20-2311a.htm)

Gila River Gila River Interment Camp-Interment Camp- "In desert camps, the "In desert camps, the

evacuees met severe evacuees met severe extremes of extremes of temperature. In winter it temperature. In winter it reached 35 degrees reached 35 degrees below zero, and summer below zero, and summer brought temperatures as brought temperatures as high as 115 degrees. high as 115 degrees. Rattlesnakes and desert Rattlesnakes and desert wildlife added danger to wildlife added danger to discomfort."discomfort."- Report of the Commission on - Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.Internment of Civilians.

Life in ManzanarLife in Manzanar

Bus heading for campBus heading for camp

Internment EndsInternment Ends The Supreme Court ruled the The Supreme Court ruled the

imprisonment of loyal citizens imprisonment of loyal citizens unconstitutional in December 1944.unconstitutional in December 1944.

The ruling led to the government bringing The ruling led to the government bringing individuals back to the West Coast on individuals back to the West Coast on early 1945. early 1945. The Japanese Americans were given $25 and a The Japanese Americans were given $25 and a

free ticket ride back to their homes.free ticket ride back to their homes. Some migrated back to Japan, but most Some migrated back to Japan, but most

stayed to rebuild their lives.stayed to rebuild their lives.

Aftermath and Compensation of Aftermath and Compensation of InternmentInternment

In 1988, President Ronald Regan signed In 1988, President Ronald Regan signed legislation that legislation that Congress implemented called the Congress implemented called the Civil Liberties ActCivil Liberties Act Apologizing on behalf of the nation for the "grave injustice" Apologizing on behalf of the nation for the "grave injustice"

done to persons of Japanese ancestry. done to persons of Japanese ancestry. Congress declared that the internments had been Congress declared that the internments had been

"motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime "motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" and hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" and authorized $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans authorized $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans who had suffered injustices during World War II. who had suffered injustices during World War II.

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