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Prior to the turn of the twentieth century, the United States was experiencing an extremely massive increase in immigration. Among the ethnicities were the Japanese. The first generations, also called the pioneer generation, were known as the Isseis. The children of the Issei were referred to as Niseis. Not many of the Nesei had children during this time, but some did. They were the third generation Japanese known as Sansei (Ng 5). By 1910, over 150,000 Japanese had arrived in the United States (Ng 4). In 1907, the Oriental Exclusion Proclamation was issued to reduce immigration, limiting Japanese entrance. By 1924, immigration was forbidden and the Japanese that currently resided in the United States could not become natural citizens (Japanese par 1). What gives someone the right to decide that the Japanese could no longer gain admission into the United States? Tracing ancestry back, everyone was once accepted into the newly founded country. If the United States were going to discriminate against one group we were at war with, why not the others? Physical appearance obviously took on a role in making this decision. “December 7, 1941, a date that will live in infamy” (Pearl Harbor par1). This was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor leaving the United States in war hysteria. The American people viewed the Japanese Americans residing in the United Sates as a potential threat. Leaders spoke out in California, Oregon, and Washington, demanding any resident with Japanese ancestry be removed from their homes and relocated in isolated areas. As a result of these pressures, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. This act authorized the United States government to forcibility round up 120,000 Japanese descendents and place them into ten internment camps (Nakao 1). “The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary.” (Executive par 1). The Wartime Civil Control Authority was in charge of setting up camps for the Japanese to be sent to (Fox 144). How was this decision fair? To be physically forced to leave your home and change your lifestyle which you worked hard to achieve, was a violation of American rights. They had to give up their home, land, and their jobs. The ironic aspect is that more than two-thirds of the Japanese interned were legal United States citizens and never once showed disloyalty. Is it fair to rid people of freedoms they once had? The decision to evacuate and intern the people of Japanese descent on the West Coast was influenced by the individuals who held high positions in the United States government.
Approximate Word count = 1698
Approximate Pages = 6.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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