Japanese-American Japanese-American InternmentsInternments

The Japanese-American The Japanese-American InternmentsInternments

Question:Question:Discuss the arguments for and against Discuss the arguments for and against

interning Japanese Americans during interning Japanese Americans during WWII. Was it justified?WWII. Was it justified?

Context:Context:December 7December 7thth, 1941: Pearl Harbor, an , 1941: Pearl Harbor, an

attack by the Japanese on the Hawaiian attack by the Japanese on the Hawaiian basebase

A photo of the USS Shaw, as it exploded, at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941, prompting revenge from the US.

http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/winter/images/pearl-harbor.jpg

Causes of InternmentCauses of Internment By far, the main cause of the internments was a By far, the main cause of the internments was a

fear of anyone of Japanese descent following fear of anyone of Japanese descent following Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor.

The US and Japan’s “peaceful” feud before the The US and Japan’s “peaceful” feud before the attack prompted some concern as wellattack prompted some concern as well

In August 1941, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan In August 1941, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan suggested, to President Roosevelt, jailing 10,000 suggested, to President Roosevelt, jailing 10,000 Hawaiian Japanese to ensure “good behavior” on Hawaiian Japanese to ensure “good behavior” on the part of Japan.the part of Japan.

http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/timeline.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/timeline.html

Causes of Internment (cont.)Causes of Internment (cont.) Roosevelt’s presidential Executive Order Roosevelt’s presidential Executive Order

9066 authorized the armed forces to 9066 authorized the armed forces to consider any areas necessary of the US as consider any areas necessary of the US as military areas “from which any or all military areas “from which any or all persons may be excluded,“ essentially the persons may be excluded,“ essentially the Japanese.Japanese.

Effects of InternmentEffects of Internment

Nearly 120,000 Japanese-Americans Nearly 120,000 Japanese-Americans were relocated inland, of which 62% were relocated inland, of which 62% were already American citizens.were already American citizens.

Over 1,000 Japanese, who renounced Over 1,000 Japanese, who renounced their American citizenship, were their American citizenship, were repatriated back to Japanrepatriated back to Japan

Effects of InternmentEffects of Internment

This girl, with her This girl, with her “ID tag,” is part of “ID tag,” is part of one of many one of many families forced families forced inland, out of their inland, out of their homes, due to the homes, due to the internments.internments.

www.larrydewitt.net/ Academic/Relocation.htm

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/anthropology74/images/figure1.2.jpg

Japanese American teens, 1942In February of 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast be rounded up and placed in prison camps. These families were awaiting a train to take them to an assembly center in Merced, California; from there, they would be sent to relocation camps in remote inland areas. (National Archives)

Japanese American teens, 1942Japanese American teens, 1942

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/anthropology74/images/figure1.1.jpg

Korematsu v. US (1944)Korematsu v. US (1944)Facts of the Case: Korematsu remained in San Leandro, California and violated Civilian Exclusion Order No. 34 of the U.S. Army.

Constitutional Question: Did the President and Congress go beyond their war powers by implementing exclusion and restricting the rights of Americans of Japanese descent?

Conclusion: The Court sided with the government and held that the need to protect against espionage outweighed Korematsu's rights. Justice Black argued that compulsory exclusion, though constitutionally suspect, is justified during circumstances of "emergency and peril.“

Decision: 6 votes for United States, 3 vote(s) against

QuestionsQuestions

What were the arguments for and against What were the arguments for and against interning Japanese Americans during interning Japanese Americans during WWII. Was it justified?WWII. Was it justified?

Atomic BombingAtomic Bombingof Japanof Japan

http://www.mbe.doe.gov/me70/http://www.mbe.doe.gov/me70/Manhattan/potsdam_decision.htmManhattan/potsdam_decision.htm

Island Bases in Marianas and on Iwo Jima provided

strategic staging areas for the bombing of Japan

and dropping of the bomb.

http://www.mbe.doe.gov/me70/manhattan/potsdam_decision.htm

Hiroshima & NagasakiHiroshima & Nagasaki

To Bomb or Not to Bomb, p. 751To Bomb or Not to Bomb, p. 751

PROPRO CONCON

Questions to consider…Questions to consider…

Was the bombing necessary?Was the bombing necessary?

Was it necessary to use both bombs?Was it necessary to use both bombs?

Was it necessary to bomb civilian centers Was it necessary to bomb civilian centers of population?of population?

Does what we know now change whether Does what we know now change whether the decision was justified?the decision was justified?