Japanese American Internment Camps 10 Camps in operation from

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Americans became extremely suspicious of people with Japanese ancestry and thought that they would exploit the American government Americans were paranoid and suffered from wartime anxiety most Japanese at the time lived in California in towns called “Little Tokyo”- the constituted only 2% of the population and were mainly fisherman, small shopkeepers, and held agricultural positions (they lived at poverty level) FEB. 19, 1942: Executive Order allowed “enemy aliens” to be placed in “relocation camps”- though this term applied to Japanese, Italians and Germans, only Japanese were interned (FDR called this camps “concentration camps” on several times) MARCH 18, 1942: FDR signs Executive Order established the War Relocation Authority (WRA) under Milton Eisenhower who later resigned (Dillon Myer took his place) The WRA was given $5.5 million dollars in funding for the camps Between AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 1942 the first inmates arrive at several different camps

The Camps

Camp Quotes “Most of the 110,000 persons removed for reasons of ‘national security’ were school age children, infants and young adults not yet of voting age” “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” “At Gila [AZ] there were 7,700 people crowded into space designed for 5,000. They were housed in mess halls, recreation halls, and even latrines. As many as 25 person lived in a space intended for 4.” “ In desert camps, the evacuees met severe extremes of temperature. In winter in reached 35 degrees below zero, and summer brought temperatures as high as 115 degrees. Rattlesnakes and desert wildlife added danger to discomfort.” When we first arrived at Minidonka, everyone was forced to use outhouses since the sewer system had not been built. For about 1 year, the residents had to brace the cold and stench of these accomodations”

Conditions at the Camps

More Images at the Camps

Japanese Men in WWII Later on into the war, Americans realized that Japanese- Americans could be used as secret weapons Japanese speaking individuals translated captured Japanese documents and monitored radio traffic Attended Military Intelligence Specialist School and eagerly enlisted in the military By Dec. 1944, 1500 Japanese men had enlisted in the 442nd regimental Combat Team

The End of the Camps JUNE 30, 1944: Jerome, AR is the first camp to close the rest close over a period of 2 years (Tule Lake, CA being the last in 1946) AUG 6, 1945: atomic bombs are dropped and war ends JULY 2, 1948: Pres. Truman signs Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act to compensate for economic losses- largely ineffective AUG 10, Civil Liberties Act of 1988 signed by Reagan

Long Term Health Consequences Psychological anguish inmates had a 2.1 greater risk of cardiovascular disease alteration of attitudes low self- esteem sad and angry over the injustices pressure to assimilate Loss of Japanese culture and language most Sansei still felt that the internment of their parents directly affected their lives and led to several negative feelings toward Americans