Japanese American Internment

Definition

Japanese American internment refers to the forced relocation and incarceration of around 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, primarily after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This event is a critical aspect of Asian American history, highlighting themes of racial discrimination, civil liberties violations, and the struggle for justice.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Over two-thirds of those interned were American citizens, reflecting a profound violation of civil rights based on ethnicity.
2. Internment camps were often located in remote areas with harsh conditions, leading to significant emotional and psychological distress for those interned.
3. The U.S. government later acknowledged that internment was unjust and based on racial prejudice rather than military necessity.
4. In 1988, Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act, which offered a formal apology and financial reparations to surviving Japanese American internees.
5. The legacy of Japanese American internment continues to influence discussions about civil rights and government accountability in times of national crisis.

Review Questions

• How did the implementation of Japanese American internment reflect broader themes of racial discrimination in American history?
  • The implementation of Japanese American internment serves as a stark example of racial discrimination that has persisted throughout American history. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, fear and suspicion targeted Japanese Americans, leading to their unjust confinement. This reflects a pattern where minority groups are disproportionately affected during periods of national insecurity, revealing how societal prejudice can lead to gross violations of civil liberties.
• Discuss the impact of Executive Order 9066 on Japanese Americans and how it altered their lives during World War II.
  • Executive Order 9066 had a profound impact on Japanese Americans, leading to mass relocations and the dismantling of communities across the West Coast. Families were uprooted from their homes, businesses were lost, and many faced significant hardships within the internment camps. This disruption not only caused immediate suffering but also had lasting effects on identity and community cohesion among Japanese Americans long after the war ended.
• Evaluate how the Redress Movement contributed to contemporary understandings of justice and reparations in relation to historical injustices.
  • The Redress Movement played a crucial role in reshaping contemporary understandings of justice by highlighting the need for accountability regarding historical injustices such as Japanese American internment. Activists worked diligently to bring awareness to these violations and ultimately succeeded in obtaining an official apology and reparations from the U.S. government. This movement has set a precedent for other marginalized communities seeking redress for past wrongs, emphasizing that acknowledging historical grievances is vital for healing and progress toward equality.

Related terms

Executive Order 9066:

The presidential directive signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 that authorized the internment of Japanese Americans and the establishment of military zones.

Manzanar:

One of the ten internment camps where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during World War II, located in California.

Redress Movement: The effort by Japanese American activists in the 1970s and 1980s to seek reparations and acknowledge the injustices of internment.