Japanese Internment During Wor Essay Research Paper

In May of 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which called for the eviction and internment of all Japanese Americans. After Pearl Harbor, all Japanese were looked upon as being a threat to America. The interments began in April of 1942. The Japanese-Americans were transported on buses and trains to camps in California. They were always under military guard. The Japanese-Americans were housed in livestock stalls in the beginning, or in windowless shacks that were crowded and lacked sufficient ventilation, electricity and sanitation facilities. All these actions taken have often been controversial, arguing whether this course of actions was proper. The fact of the matter has been that these innocent Japanese Americans living in California or any other state were taken away their Civil Rights as stated in the United States Constitution under Amendment number four. These Japanese Americans came to the United States in hope of a new and peaceful life, yet what they received was nothing of this sort. The Japanese were taken away all their rights even if one was a naturalized citizen. Under Executive order 9066 all persons of Japanese ancestry shall be excluded from area which are inhabiting. Many innocent Japanese families were broken apart and sent to internment camps located throughout California and other states near by. Innocent hard working Japanese were taken prisoner just because of their looks. Many who were captured and sent to internment camps were not of any Japanese descent, but because of the way that person looked they were sent to camps. These people imprisoned were not given any trials or fair due process of law. All Japanese people’s homes were ransacked and searched without warrants or reason, only because were Japanese. Many were imprisoned because of items found at their homes, which were considered a threat. Items such as kitchen silver ware, cooking knives, screw drivers or any other ordinary house hold item that could be considered a threat according to police or army. All Japanese who encountered this harsh event could do nothing but obey, for if one should disobey the consequences would be severe. Japanese Americans not only suffered racism from the police and army but from society as well. Many stores and businesses thought now excluded the Japanese as customers. Barbershops, bars, movies, produce markets, and all were now forbidden to any Japanese Americans. Society now thought of the Japanese as in the ranks of dogs. In several stores in order to show their hatred against these Japanese people, store clerks would post a sign that read, “No Dogs, No Japanese.” The racism that occurred to these Japanese American people were all a result of the Executive order that Franklin D. Roosevelt signed. When Roosevelt issued this order, he not only took away all Japanese American’s hopes and dreams of a peaceful life but also their civil rights; Life, Liberty, and property. Japanese were given no say so in the matter and were treated with the utterly most disrespect. America accused these innocent Japanese people of helping Japan in the war some way. These people were taken away their rights because of their race, not because of broken laws. The acts of military tactics done on the Japanese were a response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although many lives were lost in the bombing of Pearl Harbor, innocent Japanese Americans did not have to be the victims at the end.