Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Reasons for the internment of Japanese Americans - Coggle Diagram
Reasons for the internment of Japanese Americans
Military rationale/
Homeland Security
The
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
in December 7th 1941 brought a wave of anti-Japanese feeling
Exacerbated the distrust and previous concerns of the US intelligence agencies of the 1930s
Within weeks of the outbreak of war, some 3000 Japanese Americans had been arrested
The danger of a Japanese attack on the west coast led to growing pressure to remove people of Japanese descent from the coastal region
Since about 110 000 Japanese Americans lived along the Pacific coast (e.g. California)
Beginning 1942: press reports suggested that there were around 20 000 Japanese in the San Francisco area "ready to take action against the US
However.... No evidence!
None of the 3000 suspected "agents" were actually convicted
But the majority still believed the anti-Japanese propaganda, portraying the Japanese residents as potential spies and possible threat to internal security
This fear and pressure led to presidental action
Japanese Americans werent an actual threat in California because they just accounted for less than 2% of Californias population
There wasn't a single accusation of Japanese sabotage
It is worth noting that in the entire war only ten people in the USA were convicted of spying for Japan and these were all
Caucasian
Relations started to deteriorate between the US and Japan in the 1930s due to
Japanese expansion in China
US intelligence agencies became concerned about the possible activities of Japanese agents in America
1935 and forward: citizens of Japanese descent came under surveillance
By 1940: intelligence agencies had the names of potential Japanese activists
The Secretary of War Henry Stimson
in favor of a mass "evacuation" of West Coast Japanese Americans as an emergency military measure. Whereas, FBI Director Hoover argued it was unnecessary.
Economic factors
$$$
After Japanese Americans were forced into camps, the US government used them as agricultural laborers to address wartime labor shortages --> inside and outside of the camps
This exploitation highlights the contradiction: Japanese Americans were considered a "threat", yet relied upon for their farming skills
Japanese American farmers
grew 40% of California's produce
They were
really good at farming
, agriculturepart of their immigration history into the US
Able to grow corps year-long, i think?
Their success led to deep resentment among white farmers, viewing them as economic competitors
Although they made up a small % of the population, they produced a large share of the state's fruits and vegetables
Some Californian farmers supported the policy as a
means to end Japanese American competition
Most of the farms were sold at a loss, losses that together amounted to $500 million in 1942 values
The Japanese Americans were allowed to take only a few possesions with them when they were relocated, so personal belongings were lost as well
Japanese farmers were removed from their land and forced to the sell the property usually at a loss, benefiting neighboring white farmers
Racism
Following the Pearl Harbor attack, General de Witt, head of Western Defence Command, openly said that the Japanese race was an enemy race
Some high-ranking official's opinions about the Japanese reflected the racism inherent in the Executive Order 9066
Some US citizens called the policy ‘government racism’.
"Protection" but... machine guns pointing at them!!
Yoke of shame
In some US states, Japanese people faced vandalism and even attempts on their lives.
Evenso, they wanted to prove they were loyal and acted with great civilianism, dignity and patriotism.
They sang the national anthem and raised the Stars and Stripes flag each morning.
USA was at war with Italy and Germany but no Germans or Italians were interned! There were about 600 000 --> way more than the Japanese, initially subjected to strict travel restrictions but lifted in October 1942
President Roosevelt
Stimson persuaded the President that the measure was necessary
On 19 February 1942, President Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 9066
1942: More than 100 000 Japanese Americans were moved from their homes on the west coast to 10 main relocation camps in isolated parts of the USA
Once identified, they were moved to internment camps. Ex: camps at Topaz in Utah that had extreme temperature ranges 41C to -34C
The order authorized the army to establish military areas from which "any" civilian could be excluded and to provide "evacuees" with transportation"
Although, Japanese Americans werent explicitely mentioned in Order 9066, it was applied exclusively to them --> only minority group
Issei (first gen), Nissei (second gen), and Kibei (students) --> all interned
The issuing of Executive Order 9066 has been seen as a response to pressure from the US military and the overwhelming wave of anti-Japanese public opinion.
However, the role of President FDR was significant, because of his interventions in the subsequent policy of internment
He established its
nature
and
duration
Duration
Japanese Americans stayed at the camps until late 1946 (4 years), even when war was over
Nature
Healthcare and schools were limited
Camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards
Psychological impact of incarceration
Its important to note that Executive Order 9066 was a highly undemocratic act and infringed on the civil rights of US citizens
Violation of the 14th Amendment and the 5th Amendment
6:3 Supreme Court decided that Executive Order 9066 was constitutional because the president was allowed to do anything he found necessary during war times (even segregation)
Fred Korematsu case: appealed his arrest in the Supreme Court