Internment of Japanese-Americans During WWII

Prejudice Prejudice, coupled with wartime fears, can affect civil Prejudice: assuming things about people with no proof Internment: the forced relocation of Japanese Americans to "concentration camps" in the desert.

Reasons for Japanese Internment Strong anti-Japanese prejudice on the West Coast False belief that Japanese Americans were aiding the enemy Anti-Japanese propaganda

Internment Camps Japanese Americans were relocated to internment camps. They were forced to sell their property an move into these guarded areas Following evacuation orders, this store was closed. The owner, a University of California graduate of Japanese descent, placed the "I AM AN AMERICAN" sign on the store front the after Pearl Harbor.

Internment Camps Internment affected Japanese-American populations mostly on the West Coast. While in the camps, freedoms were severely limited. Camps were essentially prisons These Japanese-Americans lived in a converted horse stall in an internment camp.

The U.S. Government Approves of Internment In the case of Korematsu v. United States, the Supreme Court upheld the U.S. government’s right to act against Japanese Americans living on the West Coast of the United States.

Apologizing for Japanese Internment A public apology was eventually issued by the U.S. government many years after World War II. Financial payment was made to survivors. There were never any actual plans of Japanese espionage discovered during the entire war! It was President George H.W. Bush who formally apologized to the evacuees in the 1990s. Survivors also received $50,000 for compensation.

The Role of Media and Communications in the War Effort

During World War II, the media and entertainment industries saw their role as supporting the war effort by promoting nationalism

Censorship of Media and Communications The U.S. government maintained strict censorship of reporting the war Censorship: cutting out parts of something (often bad parts)

These posters displayed the importance of censorship! SILENCE! These posters displayed the importance of censorship!

Advertisements and Boosting Morale Public morale and ad campaigns kept Americans focused on the war effort.

Believing we all played an important role was essential to keep up morale on the home front. These posters helped remind us of our duties!

The Entertainment Industry The entertainment industry produced movies, plays, and shows that boosted morale and patriotic support for the war effort as well as portrayed the enemy in stereotypical ways.

War movies showed heroism and self- sacrifice of Americans, as well as made fun of the enemy.

Victory in World War II required complete dedication of the nation’s resources, which included the media!