When the Emperor When the Emperor Was DivineWas Divine

Japanese InternmentJapanese Internment

Pearl Harbor’s Impact on Pearl Harbor’s Impact on the Japanesethe Japanese

• Anti-Japanese sentiments Anti-Japanese sentiments have existed in the United have existed in the United States for several decades States for several decades prior to the attack on Pearl prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Harbor.

• On December 7, 1941, the On December 7, 1941, the United States naval base United States naval base Pearl Harbor was attacked Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, resulting in the by Japan, resulting in the U.S. entry into WWII. U.S. entry into WWII.

• During that time, more than During that time, more than 119,000 people of Japanese 119,000 people of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of ancestry, two-thirds of them American citizens, them American citizens, were living in California, were living in California, Washington, and Oregon.Washington, and Oregon.

Executive Order No. Executive Order No. 90669066

• President Franklin D. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. Executive Order No. 9066 in February of 9066 in February of 1942. 1942.

• Executive Order No. Executive Order No. 9066 empowered the 9066 empowered the U.S. Army to designate U.S. Army to designate areas from which "any areas from which "any or all persons may be or all persons may be excluded." excluded."

• The attack of Pearl The attack of Pearl Harbor shocked the Harbor shocked the American public, American public, resulting in widespread resulting in widespread hysteria and paranoia. hysteria and paranoia.

Executive Order No. Executive Order No. 90669066

• ordered Japanese on West Coast to internment camps

• poor camp conditions • psychological

trauma; • economic loss• Supreme Court

upheld • camps

• February 1942February 1942

Personal AccountPersonal Account

• “ I remember my mother wrapping a blanket around me and my pretending to fall asleep so she would be happy, though I was so excited I couldn't sleep.  I hear there were people herded into the Hastings Park like cattle.  Families were made to move in two hours.  Abandoned everything, leaving pets and possessions at gun point . . . ."

• — Joy Kogawa

InternmentInternment

• Those of Japanese Those of Japanese ancestry living on ancestry living on the West Coast were the West Coast were to be relocated.to be relocated.

• Internment refers to Internment refers to the forced the forced imprisonment and imprisonment and relocation of a group relocation of a group of people.of people.

InternmentInternment• Fear of disloyalty on the part of Fear of disloyalty on the part of

any Issei or Nisei was common any Issei or Nisei was common among many Americans.among many Americans.– Issei: Issei: those born in Japan, those born in Japan,

regarded by the U.S. regarded by the U.S. government as ineligible for government as ineligible for U.S. citizenship.U.S. citizenship.

– Nisei: Nisei: those born to Japan those born to Japan parents, thus U.S. citizens.parents, thus U.S. citizens.

• 1/3 of the population of Hawaii 1/3 of the population of Hawaii was comprised of those of was comprised of those of Japanese descent, thus many of Japanese descent, thus many of them were not interned, them were not interned, however the islands were however the islands were placed under martial law.placed under martial law.

• Xenophobia: an unreasonable Xenophobia: an unreasonable fear, distrust, or hatred of fear, distrust, or hatred of strangers, foreigners, or strangers, foreigners, or anything perceived as foreign anything perceived as foreign or different.or different.

InternmentInternment• Japanese assets were frozen Japanese assets were frozen

after the attack on Pearl after the attack on Pearl Harbor, making it difficult for Harbor, making it difficult for many Japanese Americans to many Japanese Americans to move from the West Coast. move from the West Coast.

• March 2, 1942March 2, 1942Gen. John L. DeWitt issues Gen. John L. DeWitt issues Public Proclamation No. 1 Public Proclamation No. 1 which creates Military Areas which creates Military Areas Nos. 1 and 2. Military Area No. Nos. 1 and 2. Military Area No. 1 includes the western portion 1 includes the western portion of California, Oregon and of California, Oregon and Washington, and part of Washington, and part of Arizona. Military Area No. 2 Arizona. Military Area No. 2 includes the rest of these includes the rest of these states. The proclamation also states. The proclamation also hints that people might be hints that people might be excluded from Military Area excluded from Military Area No. 1.No. 1.

InternmentInternment

• March 18, 1942March 18, 1942The president signs Executive Order The president signs Executive Order 9102 establishing the War Relocation 9102 establishing the War Relocation Authority (WRA) with Milton Authority (WRA) with Milton Eisenhower as director. It is allocated Eisenhower as director. It is allocated $5.5 million.$5.5 million.

• March 21, 1942March 21, 1942The first advance groups of Japanese The first advance groups of Japanese American "volunteers" arrive at American "volunteers" arrive at Manzanar, CA. The WRA would take Manzanar, CA. The WRA would take over on June 1 and transform it into a over on June 1 and transform it into a "relocation center.""relocation center."

Civilian ExclusionCivilian Exclusion• March 24, 1942March 24, 1942

The first Civilian The first Civilian Exclusion Order issued Exclusion Order issued by the Army is issued by the Army is issued for the Bainbridge for the Bainbridge Island area near Seattle. Island area near Seattle. The forty-five families The forty-five families there are given one there are given one week to prepare. By the week to prepare. By the end of October, 108 end of October, 108 exclusion orders would exclusion orders would be issued, and all be issued, and all Japanese Americans in Japanese Americans in Military Area No. 1 and Military Area No. 1 and the California portion of the California portion of No. 2 would be No. 2 would be incarceratedincarcerated

War Relocation Authority War Relocation Authority (WRA) Centers(WRA) Centers

Life in Internment Life in Internment CampsCamps

• "In the detention "In the detention centers, families lived centers, families lived in substandard in substandard housing, had housing, had inadequate nutrition inadequate nutrition and health care, and and health care, and had their livelihoods had their livelihoods destroyed: many destroyed: many continued to suffer continued to suffer psychologically long psychologically long after their release" after their release" - "Personal Justice - "Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Commission on Wartime Relocation and Relocation and Internment of Civilians"Internment of Civilians"

Life in ManzanarLife in Manzanar

Loyalty QuestionnaireLoyalty QuestionnaireIn January 1943, federal officials In January 1943, federal officials

announced that Japanese announced that Japanese Americans, including those held Americans, including those held in incarceration camps, would be in incarceration camps, would be allowed to volunteer for a racially allowed to volunteer for a racially segregated U.S. Army unit. In segregated U.S. Army unit. In February 1943, the U.S. War February 1943, the U.S. War Department and the War Department and the War Relocation Authority (WRA) Relocation Authority (WRA) decided to test the loyalty of all decided to test the loyalty of all people of Japanese ancestry who people of Japanese ancestry who were incarcerated in the WRA were incarcerated in the WRA camps. They required all those camps. They required all those 17 years of age and older to 17 years of age and older to answer a questionnaire that answer a questionnaire that became known as the "loyalty became known as the "loyalty questionnaire." Their answers questionnaire." Their answers would be used to decide whether would be used to decide whether they were loyal or disloyal to the they were loyal or disloyal to the United States.United States.

Question #27Question #27 asked: asked:Are you willing to serve in the armed Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat forces of the United States on combat

duty, wherever ordered?duty, wherever ordered?

• Response to the questionnaire was mixed. Many found the questions confusing. During World War II, women, the elderly, and resident aliens were generally not expected to serve in the armed forces. However, they were required to answer Question #27. Women and the elderly issei wondered what would happen if they answered "no" to #27.

Question #28Question #28 asked: asked:Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any and all attack by foreign United States from any and all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance to the Japanese Emperor or any other allegiance to the Japanese Emperor or any other foreign government, power, or organization? foreign government, power, or organization?

Government officials decided that a "yes" response to question #28 Government officials decided that a "yes" response to question #28 indicated loyalty and a "no" response indicated disloyalty to the indicated loyalty and a "no" response indicated disloyalty to the United States Question #28 is sometimes referred to as the "loyalty United States Question #28 is sometimes referred to as the "loyalty oath.“oath.“

Question #28 was particularly difficult for the immigrant issei to Question #28 was particularly difficult for the immigrant issei to answer. Since U.S. law did not allow any Japanese immigrants to answer. Since U.S. law did not allow any Japanese immigrants to become naturalized U.S. citizens, answering "yes" to question #28 become naturalized U.S. citizens, answering "yes" to question #28 would mean they were in danger of losing their Japanese would mean they were in danger of losing their Japanese citizenship, leaving them without legal status in any country. citizenship, leaving them without legal status in any country. Therefore, some issei answered "no" to #28 to avoid becoming Therefore, some issei answered "no" to #28 to avoid becoming stateless people.stateless people.

1945: Camps Close1945: Camps Close

• U.S. Compensation for Japanese Americans

• 1968: reimbursed for lost property, income • 1988: surviving internees receive $20,000• (60,000 left)

CompensationCompensation

• In 1988, Congress implemented the Civil In 1988, Congress implemented the Civil Liberties Act, apologizing on behalf of the Liberties Act, apologizing on behalf of the nation for the "grave injustice" done to nation for the "grave injustice" done to persons of Japanese ancestry. Congress persons of Japanese ancestry. Congress declared that the internments had been declared that the internments had been "motivated largely by racial prejudice, "motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" and authorized $20,000 leadership" and authorized $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans who had payments to Japanese Americans who had suffered injustices during World War II.suffered injustices during World War II.

LetterSent toJapaneseAmericansIn 1990 fromPresidentBush Sr.

IdentityIdentity

• According to Carla Kaplan, “personal identity is often assumed to mediate between social identities and make sense of them” (123).

• “An ‘identity crisis’ is a crisis rather than an ‘identity opportunity’ because personal identity demands proper and unimpeded expression. It is a value, something we prize. This sense of identity as ours implies an immutable essence unchanged by physical development or external circumstances” (Kaplan 123).

FamilyFamily

• Japanese valuesJapanese values– group orientation group orientation – politeness politeness – harmony harmony

• American valuesAmerican values– individual achievementindividual achievement– directnessdirectness– material successmaterial success

Commonly Asked Commonly Asked QuestionsQuestions

• When was Pearl Harbor? How did this change how When was Pearl Harbor? How did this change how Americans viewed Japanese Americans at that time? Americans viewed Japanese Americans at that time?

• December 7, 1941/Japanese-Americans were viewed December 7, 1941/Japanese-Americans were viewed suspiciously after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.suspiciously after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

• Summarize the Executive Order No. 9066. What did Summarize the Executive Order No. 9066. What did this order cause?this order cause?

• FDR authorized the Secretary of War to define FDR authorized the Secretary of War to define military areas and protect those areas against military areas and protect those areas against espionage and sabotage. This caused the Japanese-espionage and sabotage. This caused the Japanese-Americans to be separated from the general Americans to be separated from the general population away from these military areaspopulation away from these military areas..

• What were the internment camps?What were the internment camps?• The places where the Japanese-Americans were The places where the Japanese-Americans were

relocated and confined away from the military areas relocated and confined away from the military areas on the West Coast.on the West Coast.

Commonly Asked Commonly Asked QuestionsQuestions

• What were the conditions there?What were the conditions there?• Overcrowded, poor living conditions, people lived in tarpaper Overcrowded, poor living conditions, people lived in tarpaper

shacks of simple construction and temperatures in the desert area shacks of simple construction and temperatures in the desert area varied from extreme heat to extreme cold, no plumbing or cookingvaried from extreme heat to extreme cold, no plumbing or cooking

• What were the dates of opening and closing of the camps?What were the dates of opening and closing of the camps?• March 1942-1946March 1942-1946• List the ten different camps.List the ten different camps.• Amache, COAmache, CO• Gila River, ARGila River, AR• Heart Mountain, WYHeart Mountain, WY• Jerome, ARJerome, AR• Manzanar, CAManzanar, CA• Minidoka, IDMinidoka, ID• Poston, AZPoston, AZ• Rohwer, ARRohwer, AR• Topaz, UTTopaz, UT• Tule Lake, CATule Lake, CA

Commonly Asked Commonly Asked QuestionsQuestions

• What is a Nisei? an Issei?What is a Nisei? an Issei?• A Nisei is an American born Japanese American while A Nisei is an American born Japanese American while

Issei were born in Japan. Issei were born in Japan. • What was the role of the Nisei in World War II?What was the role of the Nisei in World War II?• While Nisei served as interpreters and interrogators, While Nisei served as interpreters and interrogators,

there were also separate battalions of Nisei who there were also separate battalions of Nisei who served as soldiers. There contributions were great served as soldiers. There contributions were great and their losses were high.and their losses were high.

• What are reparations? What did the Japanese-What are reparations? What did the Japanese-Americans receive as reparations? Which president Americans receive as reparations? Which president signed this order?signed this order?

• In 1988, Congress passed legislation which awarded In 1988, Congress passed legislation which awarded payments of $20,000 of compensation to 60,000 payments of $20,000 of compensation to 60,000 people who had been interned in camps.people who had been interned in camps.

Commonly Asked Commonly Asked QuestionsQuestions

• What is the location of the Topaz Internment Camp?What is the location of the Topaz Internment Camp?• Located in Millard County, Utah, 140 miles south of Salt Lake Located in Millard County, Utah, 140 miles south of Salt Lake

City, in central Utah, 16 miles NW of the town of Delta.City, in central Utah, 16 miles NW of the town of Delta.• Where was the population of the camp from?Where was the population of the camp from?• Japanese-Americans form the San Francisco Bay Area who Japanese-Americans form the San Francisco Bay Area who

had been housed at Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno, CA. had been housed at Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno, CA. Internees spent up to six months living in horse stalls waiting Internees spent up to six months living in horse stalls waiting for Topaz to be completed.for Topaz to be completed.

• What did the term “No No boys” come from?What did the term “No No boys” come from?• From a government questionnaire about allegiance to the U.S. From a government questionnaire about allegiance to the U.S.

Those who answered no to two questions who were military Those who answered no to two questions who were military eligible, were transferred to Tule Lake facility in California.eligible, were transferred to Tule Lake facility in California.

• How many eligible males from Topaz were inducted into the How many eligible males from Topaz were inducted into the armed services?armed services?

• 105105• What was the Topaz Camp closing date?What was the Topaz Camp closing date?• October 31, 1945October 31, 1945