Why were there Japanese internment camps?

Question

It's a topic that I still don't understand that well.

What were the reasons?

and Could history repeat and could a grave injustice repeat itself?

sorry the questions before were the same things.

Answer 1

In World War II, the US was lending its support in Europe while at the same time battling in the Pacific. Both actions pretty much started when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

As a result of the Japanese actions in the Pacific and threats to the West Coast, in an act born of fear, the US rounded up and placed into camps anyone of Japanese descent, even if they were born in the US and were citizens. It was a pathetic attempt to prevent spying and other actions that could be committed by an enemy agent, and since Japan was the enemy therefore all Japanese persons were as well. (Completely illogical, since non-Japanese people could also spy and take actions against the US).

Although a hardship, and the US Govt has since admitted its mistake, in some ways it may have helped the Japanese Americans survive. Being in the camp protected them from the enmity of the general public; they were not spat on or regarded suspiciously in public or attacked by patriotic whackos simply because of their race. For an example of how dangerous negative public opinion can be, look at the spate of crimes against Muslims or Sikhs right after 9/11. Anyone who appeared Arabic was immediately suspected of being a terrorist and some were targeted for beatings and even murdered.

Answer 2

The fear of the United States Army was that the Japanese Americans would perform sabotage on out war effort . Hitler had nothing to do with this reasoning but the Pearl Harbor Attack did. The Japanese Americans knew that they were loyal and as on of the arguments against the camps it was stated that except for Enemy Aliens of German and Italian decent and some German and Italian Americans those groups were allowed to stay in their homes only the Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to internment camps by the American Government. In Hawaii the Japanese Americans made up so much of the population that there was no internment and no sabotage of the American Bases in Hawaii. Was the US justified NO but it happened . It Happened because of Racism on the highest order by the government . The Interment camps were not just because there was no proven threat, No proven need except the racism of Army officers and politicians against the Japanese Americans and the the camps were against everything that the United States stands for from it's inception to today.

Answer 3

American LAND GRAB! The Japanese Americans and immigrants had bought up arid land in the Fresno Valley that Americans didn't bother with prior to WWII. The Japanese developed that whole valley into verdant farm land and American business men were very eager to get their hands on it!! There was a lot of discrimination anyway on the West Coast, prior to the war, and Pearl Harbor just fueled the envy and resentment. I believe there was a lot of pressure from the West Coast for the concentration camps--even though there was NOT ONE INSTANCE OF SABOTAGE on the mainland--and I don't think, in Hawaii either. May, 1942, the US government herded 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry (2/3rds were American citizens!) into Manzanar, west of Death Valley and nine other camps. The people were permitted to take ONLY what they could carry. All of their homes, shops, property, resources and lands were confiscated with no restitution until after the war. They were released at the end of WWII in 1945. A GOOD READ of the event is "When the Emperor Was Divine".

Answer 4

After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the country was in disarray plus with hysteria over the idea that the Japanese could attack the US mainland or at least the West coast,there came to be serious doubts over the Japanese living in the US loyalty to our country. Because of severe misguidance and under the pressure of war, the US built interment camps under the guise of protection in case of violent reprisals occuring against the Japanese people. Yes, as history has taught in the past it can repeat itself especially with the terroristic bombing in NYC and our incarceration of innocent Iraqis after 9/11.

Answer 5

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The United Stated was Definitely not justified in sending Japanese AMERICANS into internment camps. The key word here is obviously Americans. They were unjustly and illegal imprisoning American citizens for crimes they did not commit and had no relation to (In fact crimes weren't even committed) . America violated multiple provisions of the Bill of Rights and Our constitution, simply for fear of an attack within our home front. The U.S. violated the 4th Amendment (The Right against search and seizure). Japanese Americans were forced out of their homes against their will while federal agents ransacked their homes looking for evidence of possible spies. The U.S. Violated the 5th & 6th Amendment (the right to a grand jury when being held for capital or an infamous crime, and the right to a speedy and public trial) Non of the people accused of being spies were given any type of trial, but were merely held indefinitely until they were considered to no longer be a "threat". The U.S. violated the 8th Amendment (Cruel and Unusual Punishment) I dont know about you, but I would definitely consider detaining an entire race of people filled with women and children like wild cattle, with no form of communication with the outside world- completely stripping them of their dignity to be very cruel (But in the U.S.'s case maybe not unusual **cough** Slavery **cough**) One thing that showed clear prejudice and racism toward the Japanese was that though we were at war with Germany, and Italy as well, Not a single German or Italian-American was harmed or effected throughout the entire duration of the war, but an entire population of Japanese Americans across the nation were rounded up like pigs, with no sense of dignity or Respect. Also, even though the Allies lost millions of people in Europe during the war, after Europe surrendered and it came time to focus their attention on Japan, the U.S. was so quick to drop an Atomic bomb on Japan and cause widespread devastation over a large part of a population.

Answer 6

Internment camps were not necessary. Japanese-Americans were very loyal and patriotic US citizens. The US government ought to apologize for the stupid mistake that it made.

Answer 7

As an added point, people seem to forget that German-American's and Italian-American's were also placed into internment camps as well.

Answer 8

Japanese soldiers raped and killed everything that walked when conquering China, so Americans saw that and didnt like it, and also when they made war with each other, they hate each others' cultures, and so, they imprisoned the Japanese in fear of them being spies

Answer 9

Spying, as in the answer below, was not the chief concern: sabotage was also feared.


The US is in a crisis covered up by Iraq: Traffic congestion: Tell your friends about Hallitubes..google it. This is really critical: children are being separated from their parents due to long commutes, leisure time is lost, stress increases....

Answer 10

Sacajawea is incorrect.

German- and Italian-Americans were NOT sent in internment camps.