Japanese American Internment Camps

7 Feb. 2012. "Relocation and Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II." Calisphere. University of California. Web.

Japanese Internment The decision to imprison Japanese Americans was a popular one in 1942. It was supported not only by the government, but it was also called for by the press and the people. In the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, Japan was the enemy. Many Americans believed that people of Japanese Ancestry were potential spies and saboteurs, intent on helping their mother country to win World War II. “The Japanese race is an enemy race,” General John DeWitt, head of the Western Defense Command wrote in February 1942.

2014 . "Japanese American Internment During World War II." Teaching with Primary Sources. 11 Mar. 2014 .

Print. Sinnott, Susan. Our Burden of Shame: Japanese-American Internment during World War II. New York: F. Watts, 1995. Print.

Part A- Plan: This investigation will evaluate the question, to what extent did the United States of America commit war crimes against Japanese civilians and POWs during their Pacific campaign in World War II? This question is important because it raises present day controversy that the United States did not commit war crimes, when evidence may prove otherwise. The scope of this investigation focuses on the United States entry into World War II and the events during the war, specifically the war with Japan in the Pacific during 7 December 1941 – 2 September 1945. One method used during this investigation will be the analysis of the non-fiction book Anguish of Surrender by Ulrich Straus. The source will be used to see evidence about the life of Japanese POWs in American camps, and raise information of any war crimes committed against any Japanese POWs.

However, these claims were never brought to light, and to this day simply remain rumors. The U.S. government became suspicious about these accusations and demanded action. On Thursday, February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 9066, which called for an evacuation of Japanese Americans on the west coast with the excuse of a “military necessity.” The government’s impetuous enforcement of Executive Order 9066 in reaction to public hysteria, not only violated the rights of Japanese Americans, but also triggered pointless effort and attention towards the internment camps. The United States government had no authority to intern Japanese Americans on account of their ethnic background. People argued that it was acceptable because the Japanese immigrants in the United States posed a threat, but in reality, “more than two-thirds of the Japanese who were interned in the spring of 1942 were citizens of the United States” (Ross).

18 Nov. 2013. "Relocation and Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II." Calisphere. California Digital Library, n.d. Web.

The American Magazine May 1943: 30-31 Conrat, Maisie and Richard Conrat. "EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066." The Internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans. . UCLA Asian American Studies Center Publication.

11 May 2014. . "Japanese Internment." United States History. N.p., n.d. Web.

Investigation into these elements as well as records of public opinion withheld before and after the attack will determine if ignorance towards and favorable opinions of the Japanese were influenced solely by the government. B: Summary of Evidence On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy led an attack on the United States Naval Base in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The same day US Attorney General Francis Biddle directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation to arrest any suspected enemy aliens, and by the end of the day 737 Japanese civilians were arrested without trial. On December 8, the United States declared war on Japan and was brought into World War Two. Following the attack a great fear of more attacks by the Japanese swept over United States citizens.