Japenese Internment camps

A detailed Summary of Japenese Internment camps

According to our history in 1942, approximately 110,000 Japanese-Americans were relocated to selected areas far from their homes. (The American Promise pg. 692) For fear the United States Government held against them. This fear was cause from Japan who had just bombed Pearl Harbor. (December 7th 1941) America was getting ready for another world war; in doing so they took actions in national security. Japanese-Americans inhabited many of the U.S. port areas on the West coast. The U.S. government provided a plan for both United States citizens and the Japanese-Americans, or so it was stated. However, when seeking the fine details of this incident, we see two sides of the story, the question is which is the truth and which is the fantasy.

The Official Government documents drastically contrast the first-hand accounts of what it was like in those Communities. With each source the story of life behind the Japanese-American Internment camps change slightly. Can we believe what the government truly said after it becomes a part of the past? By looking at both the governmental and personal accounts of the interviews I conducted, only small similarities carry throughout.

Whether born inside or outside of the

United States, the U.S. Government attained Japanese men and women. They were not to change residences after 12:00 PM on April 30th 1942, and that all would be evacuated from there homes no later than May 7th, 1942. (History of Japanese-American Internment (timeline)) There were no reasons behind this evacuation, and there were no explanations as to what was going to happen after such an evacuation. Thorough plans for preparation were provided, such as the offering of assistance from the Civil Control Station to help sell or dispose of all personal or business property, and to provide temporary residence for all Japanese in family groups. The instructions on this evacuation were very precise, and did not allow for any compromise: Lieutenant general John L. De Witt of the Western Defense Command posted Japanese must carry with them on departure to the camps, the following property: 1) Bedding and linens (no mattress) for each member of the family; (2) Toilet articles for each member of the family; (3) Extra clothing for each member of the family; (4) Sufficient knives, forks, spoons, plates, bowls, and cups for each member of the family. (Reading the American Past pg. 175) It seemed the government had a very specific plan in mind for these thousands of Japanese-Americans. But no reasoning was offered to the victims of this plan. Each citizen or alien (Non-American born Japanese were not allowed to become citizens due to evidence of previous racism against those of Asian background) was expected to fully accept and obey what the government had expected of him or her. Most of them did. "We know now that this "relocation and evacuation" was immoral, deceitful, and practically criminal. But in the 40's, it was somehow accepted." (Roger Fujimaya) The instructions also included, not just what they were to bring, but also what not to bring. No pets of an kind, no personal items and no household goods. (History of San Diego's Nikkei Community) The government only allowed for the Japanese-Americans to bring necessities. Nothing that would provide them with any of the comforts of home. Perhaps some thought the government would provide them these sorts of services once they arrived. But they left it all behind. It is easy to look into this occurrence now, with hate and wagging fingers, knowing that even the government which initiated such a situation has taken blame and admittance for such a wrongdoing. In the eyes, minds, and hearts of those involved in the situation and around it, it must have been a very different situation. In a newsreel from 1942, Roger Fujimaya my interviewee told of a story by Eisenhower, it told of these camps of untamed lands and communities seemed like adequate opportunities for the Japanese-Americans, which were being moved there. The government was describe as working quickly to provide

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Approximate Word count = 1905
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History