INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS

Map of Camps (1942-1946)

Attack at Pearl Harbor, HawaiiDecember 7, 1941

During time roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans living in U.S.

Americans feared Japanese would attack False rumor- committing sabotage Fear + uncertainty caused a wave of

prejudice

Reaction in Hawaii

Early 1942 War Department called for the mass evacuation. Hawaii- not interned because government

had already declared martial law Economy dependent on Japanese

Americans

What is an Executive Order?

Help officers and agencies of executive branch to manage the operations of government.

Have the full force of law Although no constitutional provisions give

the President the explicit power to pass and executive order: Article II Section I Clause I- vague grant of

“Executive power” Article II Section 3 Clause 5- further declaration

“Take care that the laws be faithfully executed”

Executive Order 9066

FDR signed February 19, 1942 Signed order authorizing the creation of military

areas in which military authorities had the power to remove or exclude whomever they wished.

Military official first imposed a curfew on “all persons of Japanese ancestry” including those born in the U.S. and those who had become citizens

Later military commanders ordered the removal of people of Japanese ancestry from California, parts of Washington, Oregon and Arizona Order was justified as necessary for national security

Fred Korematsu

Born in California and worker at a defense-plant

He had tried to join the army in his 20’s but could not pass physical

Arrested for staying in San Leandro, California instead of going to the relocation center

Convicted in federal district court for violating “Civilian Exclusion Order” Conviction carried maximum fine $5000 One year in prison

Korematsu V. U.S. (1944)

Issue: Are Executive Order 9066 and the act of Congress enforcing it constitutional uses of the war powers of President and Congress?

War Powers Clause (Rights of Congress and Pres.) Congress (Article 1 Section 8)

Congress has exclusive right to declare war and appropriate $ to the support of the war effort

President (Article 2 Section 3) President is authorized to use the Armed forces of the

U.S. as he determines to be necessary and appropriate to defend national security

Ruling in Korematsu

6-3 vote to uphold the decision of lower court

Justification: In the interest of national security, the

Court said, military authorities could do what they thought was necessary in sensitive areas; Congress had the right to give this power

Majority opinion pointed out it was not ruling on issue of civil rights on Congress/President wars powers

Internment Ended:

President Harry Truman lifted order 1946 Freed internees were given $25 and a

train ticket to former homes No specific charges ever filed or

evidence found of treason or sabotage About 112,00 Japanese Americans

interned Families forced to sell their homes,

businesses and all of their belongings