Japanese Internment

Japanese Internment I. Why did it happen? A. Pearl Harbor: Fear, paranoia at perceived “enemy”

Japanese Internment I. Why did it happen? A. Pearl Harbor: Fear, paranoia at perceived “enemy” B. Threat of invasion, sabotage, espionage 1. Not one Japanese-American was found to be a spy

Japanese Internment I. Why did it happen? A. Pearl Harbor: Fear, paranoia at perceived “enemy” B. Threat of invasion, sabotage, espionage 1. Not one Japanese-American was found to be a spy C. Easily singled out – Racial prejudice 1. “Looked different”— distrust of differences 2. Japanese-Americans had very little political or economic influence

II. Internment A. Executive Order 9066 1. Presidential Order of forced relocation to internment camps

II. Internment A. Executive Order 9066 1. Presidential Order of forced relocation to internment camps B. 120,000 people interned 1. Issei - Foreign-born Japanese 1/3rd of population 2. Nisei - children of Issei (U.S. citizens) 2/3rds of population

Civil Control Stations were set up to assist with the transition to the camps

Waiting to be picked up for deportation to an Internment Camp

C. Economic Hardship 1. Could only bring a few belongings, only given a few days notice 2. Estimated loss over $500 million

C. Economic Hardship 1. Could only bring a few belongings, only given a few days notice 2. Estimated loss over $500 million D. Hawaii did not intern Japanese-Americans, 37% of population 1. Needed to work in military installations

III. Conditions in the Camps A. 10 camps in U.S., most in western states (2 in CA)

III. Conditions in the Camps A. 10 camps in U.S., most in western states (2 in CA) B. Heavily guarded, barren locations, no better than prison camps

III. Conditions in the Camps A. 10 camps in U.S., most in western states (2 in CA) B. Heavily guarded, barren locations, no better than prison camps C. Set up community as best as they could 1. Built schools, churches, printed newspapers, set up Boy Scout troops, softball leagues, music lessons

Topaz, Utah camp football league

III. Conditions in the Camps A. 10 camps in U.S., most in western states (2 in CA) B. Heavily guarded, barren locations, no better than prison camps C. Set up community as best as they could 1. Built schools, churches, printed newspapers, set up Boy Scout troops, softball leagues, music lessons D. Over 120,000 Japanese interned

IV. Legal Challenges – US Supreme Court Cases A. Hirabayashi v. United States (1943) 1. Upheld a curfew order that only affected Japanese-Americans B. Korematsu v. United States (1944) 2. Upheld internment saying Judicial Branch could not second‑guess the Military and that the military necessity of internment outweighed the individual rights of Korematsu

V. Legacy A. 1988: Pres. Reagan issued apology and restitution 1. Internees or descendants received $20,000 over 10 years 2. 60,000 people received the money

Government Apology - 1992

Manzanar Memorial