More than 127,000 Japanese and Japanese-American citizens were imprisoned because of their ethnicity during WWII. Anti-Japanese sentiment from white Americans began as the Japanese community grew on the West Coast of the United States. Because of their large number, they were often accused of espionage so in 1942 the government decided to contain them in one of ten internment camps spread across the U.S. through President Roosevelt's Executive Order. Japanese in the U.S were one of two groups, Issei, first generation, and Nisei, second generation. The Issei are not American citizens, Nisei are American citizens. In 1926 84% of Nisei were registered nationals and by 1940 over 50% had Japanese citizenship in the United States (Takaki 216).
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They also issued a loyalty questionnaire for army volunteers and camp detainees to fill out for acceptance outside camps and into U.S territory. Some became known as the "no-no boys" where they would mark "no" because of protest over internment camps, not because they weren't "loyal" to the U.S. but many didn’t feel a connection with America or Japan or they were outraged that this was one of the only ways to get out of the camps. Interestingly enough, the questions asked if they were loyal to the Japanese government, many answered "no" because they had never even been to Japan. These American citizens forced to answer questions that they do not have personal knowledge of is ridiculous. The Japanese are more like alien citizens (Takaki 398). Many Japanese wanted to rid their people and families of this propaganda the U.S was painting of them: a military threat. However, many resisted signing up for the army because they were not pleased with how they were treated. These Japanese wanted their rights and for their families to be released from camps but could only make that happen if they signed up for the war or swore allegiance to America. The Japanese's patriotism proved loyalty to the U.S and Americans of other ethnicities. Many U.S citizens began changing their minds about the Japanese and allowed them to assimilate …show more content…
Her name is Marian but it was changed to Marion, male form, when she arrived at the camp. She was sent to Minidoka and Rohwer. Eight of her family members entered the camps and eight came out. They spent three years there but were given special privileges because her father worked for security. Though her experience wasn’t typical, she said she enjoyed being in the camp. She said that when she arrived at the camp, it looked like a prison and they had guard towers with men who had guns. Eventually, the guards interacted with the Japanese and became part of the community. Her barracks were smaller than the ranch she was used to, but they all managed. My aunt explained how she did not spend much time with her family while in the camps. Camp gave the children a sense of freedom and independence. Freedom to roam around and not have to come home. She wasn't very close with her family but her father always made sure to keep them together, especially at dinner time. They all sat together. Education in her camp was great because retired white teachers would come to the internment camps to educate them. Like the guards, the retired teachers mingled with the Japanese and would sometimes stay in the camps too. Some prisoners at other camps weren’t so lucky. Many did not graduate or continue their education because officials would shut down schools or not provide teachers. My aunt was able to graduate high school in the
They also issued a loyalty questionnaire for army volunteers and camp detainees to fill out for acceptance outside camps and into U.S territory. Some became known as the "no-no boys" where they would mark "no" because of protest over internment camps, not because they weren't "loyal" to the U.S. but many didn’t feel a connection with America or Japan or they were outraged that this was one of the only ways to get out of the camps. Interestingly enough, the questions asked if they were loyal to the Japanese government, many answered "no" because they had never even been to Japan. These American citizens forced to answer questions that they do not have personal knowledge of is ridiculous. The Japanese are more like alien citizens (Takaki 398). Many Japanese wanted to rid their people and families of this propaganda the U.S was painting of them: a military threat. However, many resisted signing up for the army because they were not pleased with how they were treated. These Japanese wanted their rights and for their families to be released from camps but could only make that happen if they signed up for the war or swore allegiance to America. The Japanese's patriotism proved loyalty to the U.S and Americans of other ethnicities. Many U.S citizens began changing their minds about the Japanese and allowed them to assimilate …show more content…
Her name is Marian but it was changed to Marion, male form, when she arrived at the camp. She was sent to Minidoka and Rohwer. Eight of her family members entered the camps and eight came out. They spent three years there but were given special privileges because her father worked for security. Though her experience wasn’t typical, she said she enjoyed being in the camp. She said that when she arrived at the camp, it looked like a prison and they had guard towers with men who had guns. Eventually, the guards interacted with the Japanese and became part of the community. Her barracks were smaller than the ranch she was used to, but they all managed. My aunt explained how she did not spend much time with her family while in the camps. Camp gave the children a sense of freedom and independence. Freedom to roam around and not have to come home. She wasn't very close with her family but her father always made sure to keep them together, especially at dinner time. They all sat together. Education in her camp was great because retired white teachers would come to the internment camps to educate them. Like the guards, the retired teachers mingled with the Japanese and would sometimes stay in the camps too. Some prisoners at other camps weren’t so lucky. Many did not graduate or continue their education because officials would shut down schools or not provide teachers. My aunt was able to graduate high school in the