How do you think things will change in the United States as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

Do you think there will be distrust and perhaps segregation of certain citizens?

• Internment-To place in confinement (to shut or keep in), especially in wartime

• Barracks-A building, or group of buildings used to house military personnel.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the government feared attacks on U.S. soil. These fears raised the issue of the possible

presence of enemy collaborators living within the United Sates. The government had to determine whether their presence threatened

national security and if so what was to be done about it?

On December 7, 1941, an angry white neighbor came to the home of a Japanese American family. “You …started the war!” the neighbor

yelled. “You bombed Pearl Harbor!”

Of course, Japanese Americans had nothing to do with starting the war. But, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a cloud of

suspicion settled on these loyal citizens.

• December 7th 1941: Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (a military base in Hawaii). United States was scared of another attack and war hysteria seized the country.

• February 19th 1942: Executive Order 9066 moved 120,000 Japanese Americans from their homes into internment camps.

• The US justified their action by claiming there was a danger of Japanese Americans spying for Japan

• More than 2/3 of those interned were American citizens and 1/2 of them were children.

• Some family members were separated and put in different camps.

Japanese Internment Video

As you watch the video fill in the graphic organizer on your notes.

Throughout U.S. history, decision makers have been challenged by questions about what constitutes fair and just actions during times

of war. For example, the government has had to consider the extent of

citizens’ rights in a democracy during wartime.

To safeguard American security, can the government of the United States carry out actions that violate the rights of American citizens?

Or may the Constitution never be violated even under wartime circumstances?

Constitutional questions were certain to arise during World War II. In the first few years of the war, the FBI arrested and jailed

thousands of Italians, Germans and Japanese suspected of being a threat of having connections to pro-fascist organizations. People’s

belongings were confiscated, curfews were established and thousands were taken into custody.

Fair treatment by the law

No imprisonment without trial

In response to these fears, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942.

It stated that all Japanese regardless of citizenship, age, gender, place of birth or pronouncement of loyalty were to be taken into custody and interned.

About 120,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast were forced to leave their homes and businesses.

Japanese Americans had to move to distant internment camps.

Most Japanese Americans were torn or confused about being moved.

They were United States citizens but they were also proud of their Japanese heritage.

Most of the hastily constructed camps were located in bleak deserts. Families were crowded together in flimsy housing with no running

water.

Barbed wire and armed guards surrounded each camp.

One resident recalled, “We struggled with the heat, the sandstorms , the scorpions, the rattlesnakes, the confusion, the overcrowded

barracks, and the lack of privacy.”

They established schools, churches, recreational centers, newspapers and their own camp governments.

Despite the injustices suffered by their families, over 16,000 young Japanese American men in the camps

volunteered for military service.

• January 1945 : the Public Proclamation 21 became effective in which allowed internees to return to their homes.

• At the end of the war some remained in the US and rebuilt their lives

• Many Japanese Americans still faced racism when they tried to find jobs and new homes.

• Others were unforgiving and returned to Japan

• None of the people interned had ever previously shown disloyalty to the United States.

• During the entire war only ten people were convicted of spying for Japan

• The ten people were all Caucasian.

In 1988, Congress passed legislation that gave $20,000 to every Japanese American who had been interned in the camps. In signing

House Bill 442, Reagan said, “We are here to right a grave wrong….It is not for us to pass judgment on those who made

mistakes. And yet the internment was just that– a mistake.” The first payments were made to those 80 years and older in October

1990 accompanied with a formal letter of apology.