Japanese American Internment During WWII

Pearl Harbor Attack & West Coast Concerns

• After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the U.S. West Coast was deemed a potential combat zone.
• Over 100,000 persons of Japanese ancestry resided in this zone, two-thirds of them were American citizens, one-third were aliens.
• Authorities were unsure of the potential reaction of this population if Japan invaded the U.S.

Military Decision for Evacuation

• To mitigate the threat, military authorities decided all Japanese persons, both citizens and aliens, should be relocated inland.
• The mass migration was to be handled with consideration for those involved.

Concerns of Espionage

• Japanese individuals lived in strategic locations such as near naval bases, shipyards, and aircraft plants.
• Initial evacuations required Japanese individuals to move from these critical areas.

Planned Evacuation Process

• The voluntary evacuation approach faced challenges, leading to a planned and protected evacuation process.
• Notices were posted, and Japanese individuals were required to register.
• Registration and paperwork were largely handled by the Japanese community.
• Government agencies assisted with finding tenants for farms, selling property, and providing financial aid.

Assembly Centers

• Army built assembly centers in racetracks and fairgrounds where evacuees stayed temporarily.
• Notable example: Santa Anita Racetrack housed about 17,000 persons.
• Provided housing, food, and a semblance of normal life e.g., church services, newspapers, nursery schools.

Relocation Centers

• Centers built in locations like Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming.
• Promoted opportunities to work, space to live, education for children.
• Some evacuees started initial self-governance measures and Americanization classes.

Life in Relocation Centers

• Focused on health, civic leadership, and productive work (e.g., agriculture, reclaiming deserts).
• Some evacuees were allowed to work in locations away from the coast under supervision.

Future Ambitions and Ethical Considerations

• Aimed to achieve a standard for humane treatment even when dealing with potential enemies.
• Hoped for the eventual return of loyal American citizens to normal life and for disloyal individuals to leave.