After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States joined World War II. Our many enemy at the beginning of the war was Japan, and extensive fighting took place in the Pacific theater. Many Americans became nervous about the Japanese-Americans living in the United States. They believed they could be spies for the Japanese government. Things were made worse by the large population of Japanese-Americans on our western coast, the most likely point for an invasion on the American mainland. The American people and other in the government thought we should do something. In February of 1942, President Roosevelt took action. Roosevelt signed an executive order ordering the relocation of all Americans with Japanese ancestry to concentration camps ("Japanese-American Internment).
Japanese-Americans from all over the U.S. were moved to ten different camps. Most of these camps were located in western states. The states in which these camps were built were: California, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Missouri. Most families sold their homes, stores, and assets, knowing the chance of them being there when they returned were slim. Due to the vast amount of people selling, everything sold way under its actual value. Things were made worse at the camps, because for a while they weren’t even finished. In such cases, interns were forced to stay in a variety of places, often being stables at local racetracks. At the camps, interns often had to stay in tarpaper barracks and eat in communal mess halls. Kids had to attend school, and adults could work for around five dollars a day. Life in the camps was hard. Often times they weren’t warm enough in winter months, and you couldn’t keep cool during the hot summer months. Also, the food they were given was unappealing army food. If you tried to flee, there was the risk of getting shot by guards ("Japanese-American Internment).
Most of the interns were born in America, and had never even been to Japan. Also, a lot of them were children. Even World War I veterans were forced into the camps. When they were finally released from the camps, many were unable to return to their homes. Their homes were either gone, or they were prevented from coming back by the locals. Congress awarded each surviving intern $20,000 in 1988, in a form of an apology ("Japanese-American Internment).
Japanese-Americans from all over the U.S. were moved to ten different camps. Most of these camps were located in western states. The states in which these camps were built were: California, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Missouri. Most families sold their homes, stores, and assets, knowing the chance of them being there when they returned were slim. Due to the vast amount of people selling, everything sold way under its actual value. Things were made worse at the camps, because for a while they weren’t even finished. In such cases, interns were forced to stay in a variety of places, often being stables at local racetracks. At the camps, interns often had to stay in tarpaper barracks and eat in communal mess halls. Kids had to attend school, and adults could work for around five dollars a day. Life in the camps was hard. Often times they weren’t warm enough in winter months, and you couldn’t keep cool during the hot summer months. Also, the food they were given was unappealing army food. If you tried to flee, there was the risk of getting shot by guards ("Japanese-American Internment).
Most of the interns were born in America, and had never even been to Japan. Also, a lot of them were children. Even World War I veterans were forced into the camps. When they were finally released from the camps, many were unable to return to their homes. Their homes were either gone, or they were prevented from coming back by the locals. Congress awarded each surviving intern $20,000 in 1988, in a form of an apology ("Japanese-American Internment).
Citations
"Japanese-American Internment." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://www.ushistory.org/us/51e.asp>.
"Japanese-American Internment." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://www.ushistory.org/us/51e.asp>.