The Evacuation of the Japanese Following Pearl Harbor:
A Documentary Source Problem Writing Assignment
Directions for the Essay: Now that you have examined documents related to the internment of
Japanese Americans following Pearl Harbor, you will answer the question, “why did the U.S.
Government decide to imprison Japanese Americans? You will need to summarize the pro- and
anti- internment arguments and give a critical interpretation explaining why you think this
happened. Use the suggested format to write your essay. Each paragraph is worth 10 points.
Introductory paragraph: You need to explain how the bombing of Pearl Harbor led to the
internment of Japanese Americans (executive order 9066). You also need to give information on
what happened to the Japanese after executive order 9066 (reading the notice, packing belongings,
saying goodbye, where they were shipped to, etc.).
Paragraph 2- Summary of Pro-Internment Arguments: What were the two most significant
“dangers” suggested by the pro-internment documents? You need to quote from at least two
sources. Were these arguments convincing?
Sentence 1: One danger mentioned by the pro-internment documents is…
Sentence 2: Group/person states “put quote from document here.”
Sentence 3: Explain/analyze whether or not you think this is a convincing argument.
Sentences 4,5,6: Repeat for second source.
Paragraph 3- Summary of Anti-Internment Arguments: What two main arguments did these
groups/people have against internment? You need to quote from at least two sources. Were these
arguments convincing?
Sentence 1: One argument against internment was…
Sentence 2: Group/person states “put quote from document here”
Sentence 3: Explain/analyze whether or not you think this is a convincing argument.
Sentences 4,5,6: Repeat
Paragraph 4- Conclusion: The internment of Japanese Americans was clearly against the Bill of
Rights. Why do you think Americans and their Government allowed internment to take place?
What should have been done instead? Could this happen again?
Pro-Internment Documents
Anti-Internment Documents
Doc 1:
Doc 9:
Doc 2
Doc 10:
Doc 3:
Doc 11:
Doc 4:
Doc 12:
Doc 5:
Doc 13:
Doc 6:
Doc 14
Doc: 7:
Doc 15