Japanese Internment in the U.S.

1
Japanese Internment in the U.S.
By Peter Park Period 3
How could such a tragedy have occurred in a
democratic society that prides itself on
individual rights and freedoms?...I have brooded
about this whole episode on and off for the past
three decades... -Milton S. Eisenhower
2
Pearl Harbor Racism

• After Pearl Harbor, Americans all over the
  country became furious.

• Japs, and Yellow Journalism spread more
  throughout the west part of the United States.

-Many Japanese Americans lost their jobs or
were forced out of their position.

• - Japanese Americans were threatened and
  assaulted by prejudice Americans. Chinese had to
  wear a Im not Japanese sign around.

3
General John DeWitt

• In charge of the armys Western Defense Command.

• At the time, DeWitt was 62 years old and was a
  head strong general believing that Japanese
  people pose a threat to the Nation.

• General DeWitt claimed to have heard many signals
  coming from the Pacific and day by day, was
  passing on these, false facts to his superiors.

• DeWitt passed many letters to the president
  with the help of Stimson. The letter was about
  the Evacuation of Japanese other Subversive
  Persons from the pacific Coast.

4
Getting Ready for E-Day

• Valuable household items were in risk of being
  stolen if taken to camp.

• Items sold for fraction of their original price.
  Japanese became frustrated.

• Thinking of what terror could have happened in
  Pearl Harbor, some Japanese decided to evacuate
  willingly.

• Not many, but some veterans of World War I or
  just prideful citizens just that just couldn't
  afford to lose their shops and leave commited
  suicide.

5
E-day

• Finally the time has come. Certain regions had
  certain curfews to be at their relocation centers.

• About 25 of all evacuees were children. Only
  the seriously ill were allowed to remain behind.

• Armed soldiers were watching the Japanese
  evacuate always.

• Children and Adults had to wear ID tags in case
  they got lost.

6
The Camps

• There were 10 camps set up for Japanese Americans
  during World War II.

• Among the popular was Manzanar, CA, Tule Lake,
  CA, Topaz, UT.

• The WRA was in charge of the camps. The food in
  the camps were provided by the WRA. Still costed
  money though.

• The camps, even though not as brutal as Nazi
  camps, it was still a prison.

7
The "Typical" Camp

• 9 wards, 4 blocks per ward, 24 barracks per
  block.
• Mess Hall, Laundry Rooms, Bathrooms, showers,
  kitchens.
• Hospital, Fire Department.
• Work available for abled people.
• "Unsanitary"
• Watchtowers, signs, barbed wire, search lights,
  armed soldiers.

8
The "Typical" Education

• Education was a problem.
• Shortage in textbooks, non-experienced teachers.
• Disadvantage in college.
• Grade school has school in empty barracks.
• Poor features.
• Starts late, ends early.
• Kids who ditch.

9
Life in Camp

• Many don't even think of escaping.
• Furniture hand-made.
• Trouble at Manzanar.
• Frequent trouble at Manzanar.
• Angry food mob, Manzanar Dec. 6 1942.
• Girl Scouts, baseball.
• "Informers" led to serious strikes and beatings.

Trouble at Manzanar
Typical Japanese Home
10
A Sudden Opportunity

• In February 3rd, 1943 the U.S. army activated the
  442nd Regimental Combat Team.
• Over 10,000 young Nisei" men joined the 442nd
  Regimental Combat Team.
• 442nd Regiment becomes honored by President
  Truman that they fought for honor and prejudice
  after World War II.

11
Manzanar Tule Lake

• Among all the other camps, Manzanar and Tule Lake
  were the most trouble.
• While and angry crowd was fired at by the MP's in
  Manzanar, Tule Lake was occupied by the army
  because of the demonstration.

12
Finally Over

• After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
  President Harry Truman lifted the Executive Order
  9066.
• Following the Japanese surrender on August 15,
  1945 - 1947 all camps closed down.
• Many Japanese Americans had nowhere to go and
  were placed in shelters.
• On August 10, 1988 the H.R. 442 is signed by
  President Ronaled Reagan giving 20,000 to each
  surviving internee. And an official apology to
  the Japanese people was signed later by President
  Clinton.