Internment of Japanese Americans

Definition

The internment of Japanese Americans refers to the forced relocation and incarceration of around 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry in the United States during World War II, primarily from the West Coast. This action was driven by wartime fears and racial prejudice following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, leading to widespread violations of civil liberties and rights for Japanese Americans.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The internment camps were established under harsh conditions, with many internees living in poorly constructed barracks and facing limited access to basic needs.
2. Japanese Americans lost homes, businesses, and possessions valued at over $400 million due to internment, significantly impacting their economic stability.
3. Most internees were U.S. citizens or legal residents who had committed no crimes and posed no threat to national security.
4. The internment was largely justified by a false perception of loyalty among Japanese Americans, despite evidence showing that they served in the U.S. military during the war.
5. In 1980, a commission concluded that the internment was based on 'race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership,' leading to eventual reparations.

Review Questions

• How did Executive Order 9066 facilitate the internment of Japanese Americans, and what were its immediate impacts?
  • Executive Order 9066 allowed military authorities to designate certain areas as exclusion zones, effectively facilitating the internment of Japanese Americans. This led to the forced relocation of individuals from their homes and communities into internment camps under the pretext of national security. The immediate impact was a complete upheaval of lives, as families were uprooted and stripped of their belongings while enduring harsh living conditions in these camps.
• What were the economic repercussions for Japanese Americans as a result of their internment during World War II?
  • The internment had devastating economic repercussions for Japanese Americans. Many lost their businesses and homes due to forced relocation, resulting in financial ruin for countless families. Property was often sold at a fraction of its worth or left behind altogether, leading to a significant loss of wealth that affected subsequent generations. The long-term impacts were felt for decades as communities struggled to rebuild after such profound losses.
• Evaluate the significance of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 in addressing the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during their internment.
  • The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was significant as it represented an official acknowledgment and apology from the U.S. government for the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during their internment. It highlighted a broader recognition of civil rights violations and set a precedent for reparative justice in America. By providing monetary reparations to surviving internees, it aimed not only to compensate for past wrongs but also to educate future generations about the importance of safeguarding civil liberties for all citizens regardless of race.

Related terms

Executive Order 9066: A presidential directive signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in February 1942 that authorized the removal of Japanese Americans from designated military areas, leading to their internment.

Civil Liberties Act of 1988: Legislation passed by Congress that acknowledged and apologized for the injustices of Japanese American internment during World War II, providing reparations to surviving internees.

Nisei: The second generation of Japanese immigrants born in the United States, many of whom were affected by internment during World War II.