Internment Camps

A detailed Summary of Internment Camps

It prompted America?s entry into World War II. It took citizens by surprise. It grabbed President Franklin D. Roosevelt?s concern. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. American battleships Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia, and California were sunk. As a result over 2,400 American soldiers and civilians were killed and even more injured. After prior mobilization for war, the action taken by the Japanese prompted America?s attention to war efforts. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt feared the Japanese American?s were capable of sabotage. Roosevelt, on February 19, 1942, signed Executive Order 9066. This called for the eviction and internment of all Japanese Americans. The Japanese were housed in what are known as the Japanese American Internment Camps (internment camps). This decision made, in part, by President Roosevelt would have a lasting affect on the Japanese Americans.

The executive order given by Roosevelt gives insight on the purpose for the relocation of the Japanese. The order states that ?successful prosecution of war? means implementing ever system necessary to protect America from espionage and sabotage of the national-defense system (?Executive Order? 1). The fact that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor

In 1944, a Supreme Court decision was made on the internment of the Japanese American. In Korematsu v. United States, the court ruled that the evacuation and internment were constitutional. However, by then the government had started to release the internees. President George Bush apologized for the pain and agony the internees had to endure. He stated, ?We can never fully right the wrongs of the past. But we can take a firm stand for justice and recognize that serious injustices were done to Japanese Americans during World War II.? Although Bush attempted to provide closure from the victims of ?injustice?, the affect it had can never be erased. The lives of the some 120,000 Japanese Americans were interrupted. They lost their jobs, businesses, homes, and self-respect. Some even lost their sons who were sent to fight for the same country that had caged their parents. There were no other reparations made by the government other than the apology. The after-math of the internment!

Medical care was also available to all evacuee residents of relocation centers without charge. Hospitals were been built at all the centers and were manned in large part by doctors, nurses, nurses' aides, and technicians from the internee population. Simple dental and optical services are also provided and special care is given to infants and nursing mothers. Evacuees requesting special medical services not available at the centers are required to pay for the cost of such services. At all centers, in view of the crowded and abnormal living conditions, special sanitary precautions are necessary to safeguard the community health and prevent the outbreak of epidemics.

s will live on eternally in the hearts of the families.

The physical environment of the camps was never more than above the survival level. Housing was provided for the residents of the centers in tarpaper-covered barracks wood frame without plumbing or cooking facilities of any kind. Most of these barracks were partitioned off so that a family of five or six would normally occupy a single room 25 by 20 feet. Bachelors and other unattached evacuees live mainly in un-sectioned barracks. The only furnishings provided by the Government in the camps were Army cots and blankets and small heating stoves. One bath, laundry, and toilet building was available

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Approximate Word count = 1555
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History