Japanese Internment In America

Desperation flows through the air like sea water as Japanese immigrants search for their new hope, America. Knowing little about the new land the Japanese travelled together and searched for work. As they shinned the web of status, the Japanese immigrants were met with disdain and hatred. Despite this, they continued to support their families, some able to create small businesses and become successful. Destruction was brought upon by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, fear and hysteria ran through America. President Kennedy decided to pass executive order 9066, causing all Japanese Americans to be rushed to internment camps. Although the Japanese immigrants had children who were American citizens, they too, were taken to the camps. Furthermore, President

The Japanese only immigrated so they could earn a living for their families. Many were from farming backgrounds, so they searched for similar farmland jobs. Mercier, (n/d), notes that “Most came from farming backgrounds in Japan. Often unable to purchase land because of discrimination, many Issei eventually found land to lease to gain more autonomy over their labor.”

Anti-Japanese Resentment & Nativism

However, despite the Japanese working hard for their families, Americans became resentful and started to discriminate the innocent Japanese. Supported by “Envy and racial discrimination led to increasing anti-Japanese attitudes on the West Coast,” (Mercier, (n/d). A more violent approach was used by other countries such as Idaho, They drove out the Japanese laborers (Mercier, (n/d). The discrimination continued, only worsening as time went by, laws were going to be made against the Japanese. For example, Mercier states “Post-World War I nativist activists, including the Hood River Anti-Alien Association, pressured states to pass laws prohibiting Japanese immigrants from leasing or owning land” (n/d). The Japanese attempted to overcome the discrimination and refused to leave their homes that they have established. The Japanese played an important role in the economy and reminded people their worth (Mercier,

Consequently, this declared that everyone of Japanese descent on the west coast, has to be forced into internment camps. Around 110,000 of Japanese descents were transferred to internment camps. Nisei were first blood Japanese Americans. Due to the high number of people taken, it has become the world’s largest forced migration. It all started off with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this spelled trouble for the Japanese immigrants already settled in America. They worked hard to overcome discrimination and managed to establish small businesses and farms (Roosevelt, 1942, p. 112). Another reason for such the drastic measure taken, was the growing distrust in Japanese immigrants and their children. To justify taking the Japanese Americans, General John L. DeWitt was convinced that they were more loyal to their Japanese heritage than their American citizenship (Roosevelt, 1942, p. 112).

Internment Camps

Due to the lack of trust in the Japanese citizens and immigrants, President Kennedy ordered them all to be sent to detention camps. They were to stay there for the duration of the war. General John

EXECUTIVE ORDER