Internment of Japanese Canadians during world war 2
In 1942, 23,000 Japanese Canadians lived on the West Coast of British Columbia. The majorities of them were Canadians by birth or naturalized citizens. While they worked as fishermen and laborers and paid their taxes, they were denied the right to vote. Thirty-five years after the first person of Japanese origin settled in Canada, Japanese Canadians continued to face persecution and racism. Despite the racism, the community continued to develop and prosper. During the years of limited immigration, women arrived and families began to grow. Japanese Canadians, still without the franchise, volunteered for service in WWI. By 1919, Japanese Canadians owned nearly half the fishing licenses in B.C., but by 1925, 1,000 fishing licenses were stripped from them. In 1941, Japanese Canadians were fingerprinted and photographed and were required to carry registration cards. War was imminent. Immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, 1,800 Japanese Canadian fishing boats were seize
Stripped of their rights, categorized as "Enemy Aliens" and forcibly uprooted, Japanese Canadian internees faced further injustices. All of their property and belongings held by the Custodian of Enemy Property "in trust", were sold without owners' consent. Land, businesses, cars, houses, and personal effects were liquidated at a fraction of their value. The government justified this action. Proceeds from the sale of goods and property would be used to pay for the living expenses of the interned. Towards the end of the war, the Japanese were threatened with further expulsion. They were given the option for "dispersal" to places and towns east of the Rocky Mountains, or outright "repatriation" to Japan. Throughout the years Japanese Canadians fought for the franchise, protested against restricted immigration and opposed internment. As the war ceased, Japanese Canadians were no longer alone. Others joined the fight. The Co-operative Committee on Japanese Canadians, a federation o
Some common words found in the essay are:
Japanese Canadians, Enemy Property, Japanese Canadian, Security Commission, British Columbia, japanese canadians, Minister King, Measures Act, Japan War, Supreme Court, Japanese Americans, japanese canadian, custodian enemy property, enemy property, custodian enemy, supreme court, property trust, internment camps, japanese origin, war measures, fishing licenses, war measures act,
Approximate Word count = 662
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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