Evacuation: Japanese Internment (

Pearl Harbor’s Impact on the Japanese Anti-Japanese sentiments existed in the United States for several decades prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Anti-Japanese sentiments existed in the United States for several decades prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, resulting in the U.S. entry into WWII. On December 7, 1941, the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, resulting in the U.S. entry into WWII. During that time, more than 119,000 people of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them American citizens, were living in California, Washington, and Oregon. During that time, more than 119,000 people of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them American citizens, were living in California, Washington, and Oregon.

Executive Order 9066 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order No in February of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order No in February of Executive Order No empowered the U.S. Army to designate areas from which "any or all persons may be excluded." Executive Order No empowered the U.S. Army to designate areas from which "any or all persons may be excluded." The attack of Pearl Harbor shocked the American public, resulting in widespread hysteria and paranoia. The attack of Pearl Harbor shocked the American public, resulting in widespread hysteria and paranoia.

Those of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast were to be relocated. Those of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast were to be relocated. More than 112,000 were forced to “relocation centers”. More than 112,000 were forced to “relocation centers”.

March 24, 1942 March 24, 1942 The first Civilian Exclusion Order issued by the Army The first Civilian Exclusion Order issued by the Army (

Fear of disloyalty on the part of any Issei or Nisei was common. Fear of disloyalty on the part of any Issei or Nisei was common. –Issei: those born in Japan, regarded by the U.S. government as ineligible for U.S. citizenship. –Nisei: those born in the US to Japanese parents, thus U.S. citizens. 1/3 of the population of Hawaii was comprised of those of Japanese descent. Many of them were not interned, however the islands were placed under martial law. 1/3 of the population of Hawaii was comprised of those of Japanese descent. Many of them were not interned, however the islands were placed under martial law. Housing in a Japanese Relocation camp Japanese near trains during Relocation

Internment Japanese assets were frozen after the attack on Pearl Harbor, making it difficult for many Japanese Americans to move from the West Coast. Japanese assets were frozen after the attack on Pearl Harbor, making it difficult for many Japanese Americans to move from the West Coast. Japanese Internment Camp Locations Japanese Internment Camp Locations

War Relocation Authority(WRA) Centers

Elsewhere in the Hemisphere Canada carried out its own mass evacuation of both citizens and aliens. Canada carried out its own mass evacuation of both citizens and aliens. 22,000 residents with Japanese ancestry lived in British Columbia; ¾ of them held Canadian citizenship. 22,000 residents with Japanese ancestry lived in British Columbia; ¾ of them held Canadian citizenship. At the end of the war, thousands of Japanese Canadians were deported* At the end of the war, thousands of Japanese Canadians were deported*

Latin America Brazil left its 250,000 Japanese residents alone. Brazil left its 250,000 Japanese residents alone. Mexico created a 62 mile zone around its coasts and borders- All Japanese were removed from this area. Mexico created a 62 mile zone around its coasts and borders- All Japanese were removed from this area. Peru sent 1,800 Japanese residents to detention camps in Texas and confiscated businesses that belonged to Japanese residents. Peru sent 1,800 Japanese residents to detention camps in Texas and confiscated businesses that belonged to Japanese residents.

Alberto Fujimori After WWII the Japanese Peruvians in Texas were threatened with deportation to Japan because they had entered the US without proper visas and Peru refused to readmit them. After WWII the Japanese Peruvians in Texas were threatened with deportation to Japan because they had entered the US without proper visas and Peru refused to readmit them. Half a century later (in 1990) the people of Peru elected Alberto Fujimori to be their president ;) Half a century later (in 1990) the people of Peru elected Alberto Fujimori to be their president ;)

Joseph Yoshisuke Kurihara speaking of the Terminal Island evacuation "It was really cruel and harsh. To pack and evacuate in forty-eight hours was an impossibility. Seeing mothers completely bewildered with children crying from want and peddlers taking advantage and offering prices next to robbery made me feel like murdering those responsible without the slightest compunction in my heart.". "It was really cruel and harsh. To pack and evacuate in forty-eight hours was an impossibility. Seeing mothers completely bewildered with children crying from want and peddlers taking advantage and offering prices next to robbery made me feel like murdering those responsible without the slightest compunction in my heart.".

from Children of the Camps "I remember the soldiers marching us to the Army tank and I looked at their rifles and I was just terrified because I could see this long knife at the end... I thought I was imagining it as an adult much later... I thought it couldn't have been bayonets because we were just little kids." "I remember the soldiers marching us to the Army tank and I looked at their rifles and I was just terrified because I could see this long knife at the end... I thought I was imagining it as an adult much later... I thought it couldn't have been bayonets because we were just little kids."

Life in Internment Camps "In the detention centers, families lived in substandard housing, had inadequate nutrition and health care, and had their livelihoods destroyed: many continued to suffer psychologically long after their release" ( dex.html) "In the detention centers, families lived in substandard housing, had inadequate nutrition and health care, and had their livelihoods destroyed: many continued to suffer psychologically long after their release" ( dex.html) (

"In desert camps, the evacuees met severe extremes of temperature. In winter it reached 35 degrees below zero, and summer brought temperatures as high as 115 degrees. Rattlesnakes and desert wildlife added danger to discomfort." "In desert camps, the evacuees met severe extremes of temperature. In winter it reached 35 degrees below zero, and summer brought temperatures as high as 115 degrees. Rattlesnakes and desert wildlife added danger to discomfort." ( mps.html) ( mps.html) mps.htmlhttp:// mps.html (

In 1988, Congress implemented the Civil Liberties Act, apologizing on behalf of the nation for the "grave injustice" done to persons of Japanese ancestry. Congress declared that the internments had been "motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" and authorized $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans who had suffered injustices during World War II. In 1988, Congress implemented the Civil Liberties Act, apologizing on behalf of the nation for the "grave injustice" done to persons of Japanese ancestry. Congress declared that the internments had been "motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" and authorized $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans who had suffered injustices during World War II.(

Issues to consider 1. After the 9/11 attacks, should the government have detained people of Arab heritage or Muslim belief? 1. After the 9/11 attacks, should the government have detained people of Arab heritage or Muslim belief? 2. Are there circumstances that would make your response different? For example, if the person was not a citizen, if his or her parents were not citizens, or if the person belonged to a radical political group, etc.? 2. Are there circumstances that would make your response different? For example, if the person was not a citizen, if his or her parents were not citizens, or if the person belonged to a radical political group, etc.?

3. What alternatives to Japanese-American relocation camps do you think President Roosevelt should have tried? 3. What alternatives to Japanese-American relocation camps do you think President Roosevelt should have tried? 4. Could you ever see internment of a minority group in the United States again? 4. Could you ever see internment of a minority group in the United States again?