Internment of Japanese Americans

Geographical Distribution Japanese Population USA 1940 1

Internment of Japanese Americans was a period during World War II when the United States government forcibly relocated and incarcerated about 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of whom lived on the Pacific Coast. Sixty-two percent of the internees were United States citizens. The actions were ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt through Executive Order 9066, issued on February 19, 1942, following the Pearl Harbor attack by Japan on December 7, 1941.

Background

The internment of Japanese Americans was the culmination of years of racial prejudice and fear. Leading up to World War II, people of Japanese descent faced significant discrimination in the United States, particularly on the West Coast where the majority of the population lived. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, this discrimination intensified into paranoia and xenophobia, leading to widespread support for the internment.

Executive Order 9066

Executive Order 9066 authorized the Secretary of War and U.S. armed forces commanders to declare areas of the United States as military zones, from which any or all persons may be excluded. This power was used to declare all people of Japanese ancestry, both citizens and aliens, to be removed from the West Coast and southern Arizona and relocated to internment camps.

Internment Camps

The internment camps, also known as "relocation centers," were situated in remote areas of seven western states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. The living conditions in these camps were extremely poor, with internees living in overcrowded and underconstructed barracks. Despite these conditions, many internees tried to build a semblance of normal life, establishing schools, farms, and small businesses within the camps.

Legal Challenges and Opposition

Several Japanese Americans challenged the constitutionality of the internment in court. Notable cases include Korematsu v. United States and Hirabayashi v. United States, where the Supreme Court upheld the internment as a wartime necessity. However, these decisions have been heavily criticized and are considered some of the worst in U.S. Supreme Court history.

End of Internment

The internment officially ended in December 1944, when President Roosevelt announced that Japanese Americans could return to the West Coast. However, the last camp did not close until March 1946. The returnees faced significant challenges, as many had lost their homes, businesses, and possessions during their internment.

Redress and Apologies

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which formally apologized for the internment on behalf of the U.S. government and provided a $20,000 restitution payment to each surviving detainee. This act was the result of a decade-long campaign by the Japanese American community and their supporters to obtain redress for the injustices they had suffered.

Legacy

The internment of Japanese Americans is now considered one of the most egregious violations of American civil liberties in the 20th century. It remains a significant part of American history, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prejudice and fear overriding principles of justice and equality.