Executive Order 9066
The Japanese Internment
1942-1945
Introduction
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in
December, 1941, the U.S. government was
concerned with tightening national security. In
addition, bitterness toward Japanese-Americans
grew in many sectors of American society as a
result of the surprise attack. Little more than two
months after the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S.
government took bold and severe measures to
secure the nation from what it deemed “a menace”
– persons of Japanese ancestry in the western U.S.
History of Discrimination
Against Asians In U.S.
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1882 – Chinese Exclusion Act
Early 20th Century western states like California
passed laws that:
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Denied land ownership
Segregated children in public schools
banned intermarriage
Segregated from public places, neighborhoods, jobs, etc.
Immigration Act of 1924:
– No more Japanese immigration
– No more “naturalization” of current legal aliens = 47,000+
in the U.S.
February, 1942
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President Roosevelt issued Executive Order
9066:
– Designated “military areas” throughout the
country
– Designated “broad areas” within these areas:
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Removal of any or all persons who were deemed
“security threats” from these areas
Persons to be evacuated to “relocation” centers
Map of the Areas to be Evacuated
Sign posted ordering the evacuation of
Japanese Americans from the West Coast
The “Relocation” or “Internment” Camps
General John L. DeWitt
Commanding General of the Western
Defense Command
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The continued pressure
of a large,
unassimilated, tightly
knit racial group,
bound to an enemy
nation by strong ties of
race, culture, custom
and religion along a
frontier vulnerable to
attack, constituted a
menace which had to
be dealt with.
The Relocation of Persons
of Japanese Ancestry
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Began in March 1942
Primary areas were western parts of Washington,
Oregon, and California
At first the government ordered them to move
outside of the “designated areas”
BUT, they were no more welcome inland than on
the coast
– Other states did not want to become a “dumping
ground for enemy aliens…” Arizona Governor
The policy of “permanent camps” established:
– was to include a program of work projects for
which internees could receive compensation
The Relocation of Persons
of Japanese Ancestry
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Federal government assumed no liability for
the property of those “relocated”
Sometimes moves took place with as little
as 48 hours notice
Encouraged to sell what they had
Business properties, homes, cars,
furnishings, personal items were sold far
below market value
All families suffered severe losses and lives
in upheaval
Families were forced to sell
businesses…
…and pack up…
…their possessions…
…in order to relocate…
…to the internment
camps.
Excerpt from Nisei Daughter by Monica Itoi Sone
…On the twenty-first of April, a Tuesday, the
general gave us the shattering news. “All the
Seattle Japanese will be moved to Puyallup by
May 1. Everyone must be registered Saturday
and Sunday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. They
will leave next week in three groups, on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.”
Up to that moment, we had hoped against hope
that something or someone would intervene for
us. Now there was no time for moaning. A
thousand and one details must be attended to
in this one-week of grace.
Those seven days sputtered out like matches
struck in the wind, as we rushed wildly about.
Mother distributed sheets, pillowcases and
blankets, which we stuffed into seabags. Into
the two suitcases, we packed heavy winter
overcoats, plenty of sweaters, woolen slacks
and skirts, flannel pajamas and scarves.
Personal toilet articles, one tin plate, tin cup
and silverware completed our luggage. The
one sea bag and two suitcases apiece were
going to be the backbone of our future home,
and we planned it carefully.
Henry went to the Control Station to register the
family. He came home with twenty tags, all
numbered “10710.” Tags to be attached to
each piece of baggage, and one to hang from
our coat lapels. From then on, we were known
as family #10710…
The Relocation of Persons of
Japanese Ancestry
The Relocation of Persons of
Japanese Ancestry
The Relocation of Persons
of Japanese Ancestry
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100,000-120,000 persons of Japanese
ancestry were affected
2/3rds of them were American-born:
– U.S. citizens
– Nisei = first generation American born
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1/3rd were legal residents (Issei) who most
likely would have become citizens but were
prevented from doing so by the Immigration
Act of 1924
Issei & Nisei
The “Relocation” or “Internment”
Camps
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The ten camps located in remote, desolate areas of
mostly the Western U.S.
Camps were fenced in – military guards on the
outside
Dotted with tarpapered wooden barracks
Each barrack consisted of several one-room
apartments:
– Partial walls
– Furnished with cots, blankets, and a bare light bulb
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Single family or groups of strangers shared each
room
Toilets, bathing, laundry and dining facilities were
communal
Minimal school, recreation, and medical-care
facilities provided
The “Relocation” or “Internment” Camps
The “Relocation” or “Internment” Camps
Manzanar – Southern California
The “Relocation”
or “Internment”
Camps
The “Relocation” or “Internment” Camps
In most camps construction
had to be completed upon
arrival.
In addition, the camps were
very crowded…
…and were home to both
young and old.
Children had to attend school in
cramped quarters…
Life in the Camps
…and had a difficult time…
Life in the Camps
…finding a place to play.
Life in the Camps
Japanese Americans were forced to work…
Life in the Camps
…and the camps were always monitored
by guards from the U.S. Army.
Life in the Camps
Japanese Americans were allowed to
associate with each other at times…
Life in the Camps
…and plant and farm their victory gardens,
which supplemented their diets at the camp.
Life in the Camps
In some areas cold temperatures and snow
had to be dealt with by people that were
not used to a similar climate.
Barrack Life
Life in the barracks was uncomfortable as entire
families lived in a single room that was sparsely
furnished with cots and makeshift dressers…
Barrack Life
…and that offered no privacy for young married couples.
Loyal to the U.S.
Government
Many Japanese Americans served in the
United States military during World War II,
while their family members were interned in a
camp.
Loyal JapaneseAmericans
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No attempt was ever made by the government to
distinguish between loyal & disloyal
Most all complied to prove their loyalty
Some Japanese-Americans relinquished their
citizenship in protest
Some challenged the constitutionality in court:
– Fred Korematsu
– Minoru Yasui
– Gordon Hirabayashi
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NO EVIDENCE WAS EVER DISCOVERED OF
SABATOGE & SPYING
Suits against the U.S.
Government
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Hirabayashi v. United States – the U.S.
Supreme Court unanimously decided that a
curfew order affecting only Japanese
Americans was constitutional.
Korematsu v. United States – the U.S.
Supreme Court upheld the order calling for
the relocation of Japanese Americans as
constitutional. (Ronald Reagan would sign a
law in 1988 which provided some restitution
for people of Japanese ancestry who were
interned during World War II)
Korematsu, Yasui, & Hirabayashi
Release?
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At first, camps thought to be temporary
National animosity & paranoia about
sabotage convinced the government that
large-scale releases not feasible
To get out:
– Had to prove NOT disloyal to the US
– Had a community willing to accept
– Had a job waiting
Release?
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After June, 1942 (Battle of Midway Island)
critics of the policy became more vocal
1943 resolution passed in Congress to
segregate the loyal from the disloyal:
– This allowed men and women to be released if
they promised to join the armed forces
– Had to swear allegiance to the US and denounce
any allegiance to the emperor
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Many Nisei worried about leaving parents
behind who could not qualify for release
Many resentful
442nd Brigade –
Go For Broke!!!
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Over 17,000 JapaneseAmericans served in the
military
Regiments were
segregated
The 442nd served with
honor & distinction in
Europe
It is the most highly
decorated regiment in
U.S. military history
442nd Brigade - Go For Broke!!!
Release &
Restitution
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By the end of 1945 the
camps were closed
1988 President Reagan
signed restitution
legislation:
– $20,000 to every
Japanese-American
interned
– Compensation for
emotional suffering
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First payments made in
October, 1990
Vindication!
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Minoru Yasui, Gordon Hirabayashi and
Fred Korematsu challenged the right of
the U.S. Government to subject only
Japanese Americans to curfew and
evacuation.
The three men were convicted and
imprisoned for violating the curfew
and failing to report for evacuation.
In 1944 the United States Supreme
Court upheld their convictions.
Vindication!
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In 1983 the three men filed coram nobis
petitions seeking to vacate the original
convictions.
In November 1983 United States District
Court Judge Marilyn H. Patel reversed
Korematsu's conviction.
The Judge found that the internment had
been based on misleading and incomplete
information about Japanese Americans put
forth by government officials.
Presidential Medal of
Freedom Recipient
Fred Toyosaburo
Korematsu
Defiant Stand for
Freedom
Japanese American
honored years
after arrest,
internment
Today – A National
Monument
Assignment
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Finish reading the excerpt from Nisei
Daughter.
Look up the text of the 5th amendment
in your book (p. 159-160)
Answer the questions regarding
Japanese Internment on the back of
Enrichment Activity 12.