Japanese Americans

1
Japanese Americans

• SOC 202
• Chapter 12

2
Arrival

• Only a few Japanese came to U.S. before 1885
  because Japan prohibited emigration.
• The significant Japanese immigration occurred
  after 1890.
• Japanese males began coming to the West Coast in
  the 1890s.

3
1890 - 1924

• Approximately 200,000 Japanese were admitted to
  U.S.
• At first, the population was homogeneous in terms
  of Age (young), Education (4-6 years of
  schooling), Sex (male), General background (rural
  Japan).
• They were soon joined by females who immigrated
  for marital purposes.

4
Issei

• The first generation, the immigrants born in
  Japan
• Most Issei found employment as agricultural
  laborers or in small businesses.

5
Nisei

• The American-born children of the Issei
• Generally born between 1910 and 1940
• This group availed themselves fully of American
  educational facilities and often became more
  American than their parents.

6
Sansei

• The third generation, born after WW11
• Largely acculturated - taken on the values,
  skills, and behaviors of the host American society

7
Yonsei

• The fourth generation
• Because Japanese immigration is relatively
  recent, these four terms describe almost all of
  the Japanese American population.

8
Population Today

• 2000 Census reported 796,700 Japanese Americans
• They are heavily concentrated in the West,
  particularly in California and Hawaii
• Japanese Americans are highly urban (94)
• They are older than the population as a whole,
  with a median age of 36.2

9
Early History

• It was beset with hardship, poverty, and
  discrimination.
• Most immigrants were from the farming class who
  placed great stress on the ownership of land.
• When Japanese arrived, they found a strong
  anti-Oriental atmosphere, particularly in
  California.

10
The Japanese and Agriculture

• Japanese were seen as economic competitors as
  they achieved early success in farming.
• California Alien Land Bill, 1913, limited land
  leases to three years and forbade land to be
  bequeathed.
• Despite the restrictions, by 1941, they raised
  42 of Californias truck crops.

11
Before World War II

• Japanese Americans were strong in agriculture,
  small businesses, and contract gardening.
• They were greatly assisted by strong group
  solidarity.

12
1924 Immigration Act

• This act ended Japanese immigration to the U.S.
  and strengthened the hand of the militarists in
  Japan.

13
Attacks Against the Japanese

• By 1940, there were about 126,000 Japanese in the
  United States.
• Attacks continued and were based on Race
  (unassimilable), Nationality (land-hungry,
  imperialist, warlike Japan), Style of life
  (mysterious, un-American), Personal habits (sly,
  greedy, dishonest), and Sexual conduct (breed
  like rabbits)

14
Dec. 7, 1941

• Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)
• Almost immediately 2,192 Japanese aliens were
  arrested by FBI.
• Curfew regulations were instituted.
• The Hearst newspapers led the agitation against
  the Japanese.
• American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, farm
  groups agitated.

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16
Executive Order 9066

• Signed by President Roosevelt, Feb. 19, 1942
• It designated military areas where military
  commanders could exclude persons and authorized
  the building of relocation camps to house
  people excluded.

17
March 2, 1942

• General DeWitt issued an order to evacuate all
  persons of Japanese ancestry (defined as people
  with 1/8 or more Japanese blood) from the western
  half of the Pacific Coast states and southern 1/3
  of Arizona.
• 110,000 of the 126,000 Japanese in country were
  affected. (2/3s were citizens)

18
Evacuation

• It was rapid, smooth, and efficient primarily
  because of the cooperativeness of the Japanese.
• Fisher reports that only 2,300 of the evacuees
  asked to be sent back to Japan.
• Were these camps concentration camps?

19
Why Were the Japanese Evacuated?

• Kitano offers a multi-factor interpretation
• 1. Racism
• 2. Pressure from individuals groups
• 3. Background of anti-Oriental feelings
• 4. Wartime fears
• 5. General lack of knowledge about Japanese by
  most Americans

20
After World War II

• Japanese were again becoming part of the
  mainstream.
• Some had relocated to the Midwest - particularly
  Chicago and the East but most returned to the
  Pacific Coast states.
• Popular feeling became more supportive.

21
Post-War Economy

• It was prosperous.
• Japanese achieved considerable mobility in a
  short time.
• By 1970, the Japanese ranked first among all
  nonwhite categories for education and income.

22
Successful Acculturation

• How and why has this occurred?
• Kitano stresses
• 1. Changed economic conditions
• 2. Dispersal - those who went East did
  particularly well
• 3. Changing attitudes decline of overt
  discrimination
• 4. Cultural values stress on educ.

23
Japanese Americans Today

• Economic situation is positive.
• Educational attainment and family earnings are
  higher for the Japanese than for Whites
• Divorce rates for Japanese Americans are among
  the lowest in U.S.
• Intermarriage rates are increasing .
• Crime, delinquency, mental illness rates are
  among lowest in U.S.

24
Ambivalence

• Young Japanese Americans are ambivalent about
  their cultural heritage.
• The pull to be American is intense, but so are
  the reminders that, in the eyes of many, Japanese
  Americans are they, not we.
• Subtle prejudice persists.

25
Closing Quiz

• True - False Items
• 1. Japanese Americans were sent to internment
  camps during WW 11.
• 2. Today, Japanese Americans have a higher than
  average divorce rate.
• 3. Kitano argues that acculturation of the
  Japanese has successfully occurred.