Explain Why The Japanese-Americans Interned During World War II

Desirae Jackson

The World War II was the deadliest war decades ago. As a result of this, the World War II took millions of lives during the battle. Such as, civilians also lost their lives due to this deadly war. However, there were two Presidents of the United States. The first President of the United States of America was Franklin D. Roosevelt when the World War II first started until his death in 1945. Harry S. Truman became the 33rd President of the United States during the war. This essay will explain why the Japanese-Americans interned during World War II, the national government and the national security involvement. Internment is a large group of people who are imprisoned without a trial. Interment in other words also means "the action of interning confinement within the limits of the country or place." Internment camps were known as prison camps for the action of confining enemies. Therefore, President Roosevelt gave official permission to imprison the Japanese Americans and signed an executive order #9066, which gave the national security permission to take action. This was in result of the bombing that had taken place because of the bombing on Pearl Harbor. Japanese people and their
ancestors were residents of the United States of America, (Miller, Gormly & Woestman, 2014). The Japanese Americans in the United States of America was relocated into internment camps known as "national security" because of the attack.
However, the Japanese Americans did not put up a fight because they did what they were told to do. Unfortunately, it was a shock to America and they feared what had already taken place will happen again in the future "along the Pacific Coast." People who were residents in the West Coast gave a spoken account of "the enemy planes overhead and practiced blackouts" which had been observed, heard and done on "December seventh and throughout the next week." Consequently this led the Army to pay particular attention to the Japanese and evacuate them, (Miller, Gormly & Woestman,
2014). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) took citizens into custody they "arrested 2,541" people. With that being the case not only the Japanese Americans got arrested but the Germans and Italians, as well. The Japanese Americans were a major threat to the United States because of the attack, so General John L. De Witt known as a "commanding general" from the "Western Defense District" mention "we must worry about the Japanese all the time…Until he is wiped off the map." Under those circumstances Japanese Americans had to leave behind everything, such as homes and businesses, (Miller, Gormly & Woestman, 2014). In addition, the Japanese Americans lost their jobs and their license was taken away. Some Japanese Americans were working for the state and others had medical and law licenses. Their assets were frozen, services at stores were refused. Majority of the Americans wanted the Japanese to be removed from the West. That is another reason "Roosevelt signed executive order #9066." They had "ten internment camps" ready for the Japanese Americans to be relocated to. Families were no longer part of society and their identity was numbers. One woman mentions "we were known as family #10710," (Miller, Gormly & Woestman, 2014). Subsequently the removal of the Japanese Americans and their ancestors was also due to protecting the manufacturing plants and military bases. The entire West Coast was the military territory. On the other hand, the national government should have the power to suspend personal liberties in the name of national security, because working together as a team is crucial. In 1942 when Roosevelt signed the order the national security/ military was allowed to remove anyone who was a threat in "military areas." The national security duties are to maintain the survival of the State. The national security is the ones who protect the country through economic power, political power and power projection, as well as diplomacy. The military watched over the camps the Japanese Americans and their ancestors when they were removed to another location. The military allowed the Japanese to "create a community with farms, shops and small factories." Nonetheless, the national government was also involved. The national government duties are to protect the citizens. Their role is protecting the citizens from poverty, injustice, hostile or violent behavior and hard economic times. That is why in 1942 "Roosevelt signed executive order #9066, however, there were several reasons for him to do that, (Miller, Gormly & Woestman, 2014). In 1944 Internees located in California Owens Valley was making millions of "agricultural products." Most of them had work outside the camps. Some went to college and others joined the military. Not to mention the "Medal of Honor" was given to "twenty-one Asian Americans" who was from the "442nd Regiment." In the year of 1988 lawsuits were filed due to victims who endured the pain being confined to internment camps. The national government/ federal government "paid 20,000 in compensation" to each of the sixty thousand internees who survived.
Lastly President Truman rebuilt democracy in the United States after World War II. The national government had as much power the national security had to make a difference in the country (United Sates) and they both work together as a team. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the American people had to protect the country. Finally, there were a lot of Japanese people located in the West Coast and the United States also feared that. Japanese people in America went through a lot for some time until justice was served on their behalf. Not to mention everyone was unable to survive in the internment camps because they were doing hard labor work. So many lives were lost during the World War II, and many soldiers will never be forgotten.

References
Miller, Gormly &Woestman. (2014). Making america. (Sixth ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
(2007, July 13).Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07132007/civilliberties.html