Executive Order 9066

Definition

Executive Order 9066 was issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, allowing the military to designate certain areas as exclusion zones, ultimately leading to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. This order reflected the heightened fear and prejudice against Japanese Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in significant violations of civil liberties.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in internment camps due to Executive Order 9066.
2. The decision for internment was based on national security concerns but was largely fueled by racial prejudice and war hysteria.
3. Most internees lost their businesses, homes, and personal possessions during their forced relocation, causing long-term economic hardship.
4. In 1988, the U.S. government formally apologized for the internment and authorized reparations to surviving internees through the Civil Liberties Act.
5. Supreme Court cases such as Korematsu v. United States challenged the legality of internment but ultimately upheld the government's actions during wartime.

Review Questions

• How did Executive Order 9066 reflect the social and political climate in the United States during World War II?
  • Executive Order 9066 illustrated a climate of fear and suspicion towards Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. government prioritized national security over civil liberties, resulting in the forced relocation of Japanese Americans. This order not only revealed widespread racial prejudice but also highlighted how wartime anxiety can lead to drastic violations of individual rights.
• Discuss the implications of Executive Order 9066 on Japanese American communities and their subsequent efforts for redress.
  • The implications of Executive Order 9066 were devastating for Japanese American communities, resulting in the loss of homes, businesses, and a profound sense of injustice. The internment experience galvanized many within these communities to advocate for their civil rights. Organizations like the Japanese American Citizens League emerged to fight for acknowledgment of these injustices and to seek reparations, which eventually led to formal apologies from the government.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of Executive Order 9066 on U.S. civil liberties and governmental policies regarding race during wartime.
  • The long-term consequences of Executive Order 9066 significantly impacted U.S. civil liberties by setting a precedent for how the government could infringe upon individual rights during times of war. It raised critical questions about racial discrimination and national security that continue to resonate today. This event has prompted ongoing discussions about policies concerning race and civil liberties, particularly regarding how fear can lead to systemic injustice against specific groups.

Related terms

Internment Camps: Facilities where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and confined during World War II under Executive Order 9066.

Civil Liberties:

Basic rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to individuals, which were severely restricted for Japanese Americans as a result of Executive Order 9066.

Japanese American Citizens League (JACL): An organization founded to advocate for the rights of Japanese Americans, especially in response to the injustices of internment during World War II.