The Internment of the Japanese-Ameicans
796 Words4 Pages
The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 not only devastated America’s naval ships, but also severed America’s trust of anyone with Japanese heritage. As a result, millions of Japanese-Americans were excluded from society, and countless Japanese people (both alien and native born) were locked away in internment camps across America. In Americans’ eyes, every Japanese-American was a terrorist waiting to strike. When World War II broke out, America tried to stay out of the war as much as possible. But, when Germany declared war on America on December 11, 1941, America had a shortage of soldiers. So, they pulled thousands of Japanese-Americans from internment camps and sent them out to war. When they returned, they were the most decorated and heroic unit in American history. Yet, they were still ostracized. The treatment and internment of the Japanese-American people during World War II was unreasonable because many Japanese-Americans remained loyal to America, even though they were ostracized from American society. Although distrusted and disliked, many Japanese-Americans wanted to prove their loyalty to their new country. Many were pulled out of their internment camps and put into the Army; and turned out to be the most decorated unit in United States Military history. Many Japanese-Americans, before they were sent to internment camps, owned successful businesses and were loyal citizens. One man, Fred Korematsu, had plastic surgery done and changed his identity in order to stay out of internment camps; but was still captured.
When America was thrust into World War II on December 11, 1941, there was a shortage of American soldiers to be sent into the war. As a result, thousands of Japanese-Americans were removed from intern...
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...would attack the country. This fear caused every Japanese-American to be evacuated from their homes and businesses and locked away in internment camps. But, when America was brought into World War II, there was not enough soldiers to defend the country. Ironically, thousands of the feared Japanese-Americans were pulled out of the internment camps, put into the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and sent to war. The Japanese-American unit proved themselves to be the most heroic and decorated unit in American Military history. One man, Fred Korematsu, refused to be evacuated from his California home. So, he changed his identity in attempt to stay out of the camps. However, he was arrested and accused of breaking the law. Although many Japanese-Americans were loyal citizens of America, they were still ostracized and locked away because many Americans feared they would attack.