what happened to the japanese in california? Why did they have to relocate? What was the tragedy and triumph?

Answer 1

If you meant the Japanese Americans in WW2, they were mostly relocated to concentration camps in Arizona, far from the ocean, with just what they can carry in their suitcases. Quickly their shops and businesses were looted and burned, or was soon taken by squatters, except for the few that were sold to non-Japanese friends and business associates, often at well-below-market prices.

It is the only time in the history of US that loyal American citizens, simply due to their ancestry, was singled out for detrimental treatment, by order of the President.

At least one Japanese-American, Fred Korematsu, chose to fight the order by adopting disguises and such and remained at large for several weeks, until someone ratted him out. ACLU tried to defend him at his trial, but the Supreme Court, in 6-3 decision, quickly found him guilty and sent him off to prison.

Many Japanese Americans, 2nd generation (known as Nisei), decided that they will demonstrate their loyalty to the US by dying if necessary, and many volunteered to fight in Europe. No unit wanted them, so US Army formed a Nisei-only unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and it became the MOST DECORATED unit of its size in US Army history, including 21 Medal of Honor winners. They fought in almost every major battle in Europe.

Answer 2

It was a tragedy that it happened in the first place. It separated them from the rest of America and enable a grain of fear and mistrust to be blown out of proportion. Hope these link help:

(1)On 19 February 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066 authorizing the Secretary of War or any military commander to establish "military areas" and to exclude from them "any or all persons. A month later, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9102 establishing the War Relocation Authority, which eventually operated the internment camps. Roosevelt named Milton Eisenhower, brother of the future president, to head the WRA.

Without a murmur of dissent, the Congress quickly affirmed Executive Order 9066 with the passage of Public Law 77-503.

(2)A History of Japanese Americans in California
(3)Ansel Adams’s Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar

Answer 3

Hope these sites help too.
http://www.densho.org/
http://www.densho.org/sitesofshame/index.html