Japanese-American Internment Camps

Improved Essays
World War Two was a deadly conflict that lead to the creation of several controversial incidents. World leaders would do anything they could to protect the welfare of the people that looked to them for safety. One of the controversial incidents occurred in the United States in the form of Japanese-American internment camps. The camps were a rash decision by Roosevelt to prevent a domestic terrorist attack that may never happen. The camps have had lasting effects on the west coast as well as the opinions that people have about Franklin Roosevelt. Many people disagree with Roosevelt’s plan to “relocate” the Japanese-Americans to protect the rest of the United States because they feel the solution was unethical, unnecessary and unjustified.
Japanese-American internment camps were created by the United States government due to the recent attack on Pearl Harbor, which was carried out by Japanese pilots. The president at the time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, created these camps in order to prevent an attack on United States soil by the Japanese that lived in the U.S.. The president decided to order the relocation of the Japanese-Americans to ensure the safety of the rest of the United States. The camps started in March 1942 but Order 9066, the order that called for the relocation of
…show more content…
The camps were all shut down by the end of 1945. The camps were surrounded by armed soldiers to prevent the Japanese-Americans from escaping the camps. "’Camp’ is how my parents referred to the Japanese-American internment camps located in remote and desolate regions…”(Hirasuna 1). The camps were located in these isolated areas to prevent the rest of the United

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The United States was worried that the Japanese were going to attack America from the inside. Out of fear the American government condemned all Japanese living in the U.S. While internment camps were made out of fear, concentration camps were made out of hatred. Hitler blamed the Jews for everything, even if it wasn’t their fault. Hitler hated the Jews so much he had concentration camps built for the purpose of mass murdering all Jews. Lastly, internment camps were built to protect America.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    They made the final decisions to relocate every Japanese-American person in the U.S. Everyone had just assumed that anyone who looked Japanese was either a spy or a terrorist waiting to attack, either way they were dangerous. There is no doubt that there were spies and dangerous terrorists in the U.S at this time, however, relocating each and every Japanese-American seems a bit over the top. February 19, 1842 marked the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized that the military relocate the Japanese-Americans; he states that the military has the right to “prescribe military areas” as proper bases for the internment camps (Doc 2).…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Japanese Internment Camps

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The internment camps were located in 7 western states in remote regions of the states. One could find the camps in these states: California, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Arkansas. Due to the placement of the camps, this made the weather conditions uncomfortable and on the brink of unlivable; the weather conditions differed on the extreme side of the spectrums. In the winter, it was too cold, and in the summer the heat was miserable. Despite this, the internees were expected to go about their daily lives and form routines almost as if nothing had happened.…

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Explain the rationale for the internment of Japanese-American civilians in camps during World War II. Research and discuss the arguments in the Korematsu v. the United States case that went up through the high courts. (See the text, p. 696.) In 1941 the United States was on a slow recovery from the worst economic catastrophe in the nation’s history, The Great Depression. Additionally, European nations were once again engaged in a deadly war over expansion, power, and natural resources that would be later titled World War 11.…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Camps were spread out along the west coast in the following areas of Amache in Colorado, Heart Mountain in Wyoming, Gila River and Poston in Arizona, Minidoka in Idaho, Jerome and Rowher in Arkansas, Topaz in Utah and Manzanar and Tule Lake in California.(PBS ) Life in the internment camps was definitely not easy. Japanese-Americans were given numbers to be assigned to one of the ten internment camps. The Japanese were expected to grow their own food but it was often very difficult in the semi-arid areas. They were forced to live in barracks that were always too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.…

    • 1655 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Japanese Internment was a cruel and racially targeted way to calm suspicion against a large group of people and will never be forgotten. In 1942, Japanese Americans were packed into Japanese Internment camps against their will. To be forced into a camp, you only had to be one-eight Japanese. The harsh conditions only made it worse for the people already forced to leave behind their possessions and everything they’ve ever known.…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Japanese American Internment Camps The United States throughout history had many faults in their actions and mindset against minorities. During the era of World War II, there was much distrust and tension between the counties of the Axis Powers. Because of the conflict between the countries, many people of German, Italian and Japanese heritage were treated poorly and disrespectfully at the time.…

    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From the years 1942 to 1945, The United States Of America interned over 115,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans. In 1941, The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, this was the start of what was called The Pacific War during World War II. About 3 months later, President Roosevelt signed an order that ordered all people of Japanese ancestry living on the west coast, Oregon, Washington, and California, to be relocated to internment camps inside of the U.S.. Before Roosevelt signed the order, most Japanese people living in the U.S. had their houses search by government officials. When word got around that the government was doing this, many of the Japanese burned and hid everything that linked them to Japan.…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In 1941, President Roosevelt ordered that the loyalty of Japanese Americans should be analyzed. In early 1942, people of Japanese descent were starting to be removed from the West Coast, some put into Japanese Internment Camps. It is wrong to restrict personal liberties, even in a time of war. In the Munson Report, which was produced by Curtis B. Munson, it is stated that the Japanese are no problem and are not to be feared.…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII When most people think of World War II they think of the Jewish genocide and other events happening in Europe. What some Americans do not know about is the internment and treatment of Japanese Americans during that time. Many American citizens were taken from their homes with only the small possessions they could carry and taken to camps in the desert. Sociologically, it is important to look at this event and understand why citizens of the same country can act like a certain group does not belong.…

    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Because of the vicious attack on pearl harbor the U.S. created racially motivated and inhuman camps for innocent people. The japanese ended up getting segregated by their own country. During world war two the U.S. had three main enemies, Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Japanese americans were sent to internment camps. But yet German or Italian americans did not face the same segregation.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In March of 1946, the last Japanese internment camp ceased operations and closed its gates. In 1948, a law was passed that helped the Japanese regain some of their losses they had incurred from having to part ways with their land and personally belongings and homes so quickly and for such low prices. Also in 1988, Congress passed a bill that awarded monetary restitution to the families of Japanese and Japanese-Americans who had been placed in the various camps. Over 70,000 people ended up receiving the $20,000 compensation.…

    • 1462 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    1. How are the two accounts similar? a. Both accounts showed the resilience of the American citizens who lost their material belongings during and after the internment process. Japanese Americans adapted to their new environments and complied with those who forced them into the horrible situation. 2.…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In the article "Japanese-American Internment [ushistory.org]." 2008. 26 Apr. 2016 it informs us of the mistreatment of Japanese-American people during World War 2. The author of this article develops the thesis with facts and background information that are supported with the details. The purpose of this article is to explain to readers of the hardships and the unjust way the Japanese people had to live for years. The article uses a formal tone to an audience of Americans that yet haven't realized the injustice that Japanese-Americans went through.…

    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    World War II or otherwise known as the good war. While this war did do a lot of good by liberating the Jewish people from concentration camps it was also the reason for Japanese internment camps. By having these internment camps, America was on its way to becoming the next Germany. The war ended the holocaust and the depression but the countless lives that it took, especially in Japan, was devastating. The good doesn’t outweigh the bad.…

    • 1856 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays