Internment of Japanese Canadians

Stages of Japanese Aggression RECALL… Japanese Expansion Manchuria and China Japanese Expansion Manchuria and China Japan Storms out of League in 1933 Japan Storms out of League in 1933 How do feel about this? Should you be concerned? Should something be done? How do feel about this? Should you be concerned? Should something be done? Japan bombs Pearl Harbour on Dec 7, 1941 Japan bombs Pearl Harbour on Dec 7, 1941 Attacked Hong Kong and other places in the Pacific on Dec 8, 1941 Attacked Hong Kong and other places in the Pacific on Dec 8, 1941 POWs were treated worse than those in German camps POWs were treated worse than those in German camps Has your stance changed? What are some of the potential implications for Canada? Has your stance changed? What are some of the potential implications for Canada?

Anglo-Canadian Reactions Resentment against Japanese Canadians exploded into panic and anger in British Columbia. Resentment against Japanese Canadians exploded into panic and anger in British Columbia. 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the Canadian navy in fear of spying 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the Canadian navy in fear of spying The war offered a convenient excuse for Canadians to move Japanese Canadians into camps The war offered a convenient excuse for Canadians to move Japanese Canadians into camps

The Canadian War Measures Act 1914 – “gave the government sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.” 1914 – “gave the government sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.” Used to imprison CANADIANS of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI. Used to imprison CANADIANS of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI.

Japanese Internment in Canada ■ The movement of 23,000 Japanese Canadians during the war was the largest mass exodus in Canadian history.

Internment Timeline 1941 (December 8): 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close (December 8): 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close (January 16): Removal begins of Japanese immigrant males from coastal areas (January 16): Removal begins of Japanese immigrant males from coastal areas (February 24): All male Japanese Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from 100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia (February 24): All male Japanese Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from 100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia (February 26): Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew imposed (February 26): Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew imposed (March 4): Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a “protective measure only” (March 4): Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a “protective measure only” (March 25): British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to “ghost town” detention camps (March 25): British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to “ghost town” detention camps.

Conditions in the Camps Housed in huts with two bedrooms and a kitchen Housed in huts with two bedrooms and a kitchen shared by two families shared by two families No electricity or running water until 1943 No electricity or running water until 1943

Camp Conditions continued Hundreds of women and children were squeezed into livestock buildings Hundreds of women and children were squeezed into livestock buildings Slept on beds covered in straw for comfort Slept on beds covered in straw for comfort Conditions were so poor that food packages were sent from Japan through the Canadian Red Cross to those suffering in the camps Conditions were so poor that food packages were sent from Japan through the Canadian Red Cross to those suffering in the camps

Imagine… Imagine being dropped off in an unfamiliar place, far from home and everything you know. Some of your family members are sent elsewhere, miles away, and you are told you can’t leave to find them. Your days are now spent in animal stalls, sleeping on a bed of straw, with the unbearable stench of animal waste in the air. There are no walls to your new home. No door to shut out the rest of the world. Instead, hundreds of other people share your same floor, with only hanging sheets separating you. You discover your home, business and most of your possessions have been either sold off without your consent or looted. You have nothing to go back to. And the country you love and the government that was supposed to protect you is responsible. Imagine being dropped off in an unfamiliar place, far from home and everything you know. Some of your family members are sent elsewhere, miles away, and you are told you can’t leave to find them. Your days are now spent in animal stalls, sleeping on a bed of straw, with the unbearable stench of animal waste in the air. There are no walls to your new home. No door to shut out the rest of the world. Instead, hundreds of other people share your same floor, with only hanging sheets separating you. You discover your home, business and most of your possessions have been either sold off without your consent or looted. You have nothing to go back to. And the country you love and the government that was supposed to protect you is responsible.

Acknowledging Wartime Wrongs Forty-three years after the end of the war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian government and announced the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly wronged. Forty-three years after the end of the war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian government and announced the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly wronged. Is this an acceptable redress to the issue? Is this an acceptable redress to the issue?

Outcomes of Internment After the war, the federal government decided to remove all Japanese Canadians from British Colombia. After the war, the federal government decided to remove all Japanese Canadians from British Colombia. The Japanese were forced to choose between deportation to war ravaged Japan or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains. The Japanese were forced to choose between deportation to war ravaged Japan or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains. Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country. Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country.

Video ther_resources.htm#tr ther_resources.htm#tr ther_resources.htm#tr ther_resources.htm#tr Do you agree or disagree with the role the Canadian Government took as “pre- caution,” against Japanese Canadians? Do you agree or disagree with the role the Canadian Government took as “pre- caution,” against Japanese Canadians?

ASSIGNMENT Great Debates- see handout Great Debates- see handout Debate Topics Debate Topics Was the Canadian government justified in interning Japanese Canadians during World War II? Was the Canadian government justified in interning Japanese Canadians during World War II? Did the Canadian government do an effective job of managing the economy during World War II? Did the Canadian government do an effective job of managing the economy during World War II? Was the Canadian government justified in introducing conscription during the World War II? Was the Canadian government justified in introducing conscription during the World War II? Were Canadian troops properly prepared and trained for battles in World War II? Were Canadian troops properly prepared and trained for battles in World War II? Did Canada benefit from the World War II? Did Canada benefit from the World War II?