Why did FDR put the Japanese in Concentration Camps during WWII?

Answer 1

Obstensibly, to prevent possible sabotage or spying. I have no doubt that the Japanese govt had operatives, especially on the West Coast, who would have monitored troop and ship deployments. Activits won't admit that similiar internment of Italians and Germans also occured, though admittedly most internees were Japanese.

It may also have been to prevent civil unrest. The bad feelings toward the Japanese was very strong, and segregating them from the public no doubt prevented some violence toward them.

In any event, the treatment of Japanese-Americans was not severe in itself. There were no beatings or long imprisonment. They were allowed to stay together with their families. The treatment of those Japanese Americans was in stark contrast to Americans captured in the Phillipines and other places occupied by the Japanese.

Answer 2

Although this question was very hard to answer, I thought I'd give it a try also. The three answers here are all correct in some ways. After the war both pictures and covert operations came forward about what was going on during the pre-war years. There was espionage from Japanese citizens both during and before the war. Pictures of our bases around the west coast and the general areas of the West.
This wasn't known at the time on the interments so, this was no excuse for the treatments of these peoples. It was a black mark on our history but, you have to remember the inter turmoil left by Pearl Harbor and the Japanese attacks on the American and British forces and, what was happening in the South Pacific during these years.

Answer 3

wow. i stumbled on this question not really meaning to answer it but the response i just read was so appalling that i felt i had to keep the questioner from being misinformed about japanese internment. first, to answer your question, the reason that coastal japanese were sent to inland concentration (let's not try and clean it up) camps was to supposedly prevent spying. and yes some germand and italians were arrested on drummed up sedition charges during the war. however, the treatment of the japanese was in no way "similar" to that of the germans and italians. all ethnic japanese (american-born citizen or not!) were rounded up, forced to abandon thier homes and what belongings they could not carry in anywhere from a couple of days to a few hours time. the camps themselves composed of tents placed in any defendable open location that could be found including in some instances the stables and track of a raceway or the a stadium field. these men and women had to endure meager rations and prison-style living for years until the war wa over. it was for from reasonable. if you need a good source try a people's hsirtory of the united states of america by howard zinn. it'll teach you more than that. good luck

Answer 4

I will not attempt to defend the deplorable use of internment camps on a largely loyal population during WW2. It was more racial then anything else. After all remember the "Yellow Peril" scares of that century. And don't forget that this same internees had sons fighting for the U.S. in the European theater of operations.

But to even use the word "concentration camp" in this context is an example of moral relativism that I find especially repugnant.

Answer 5

to prevent japanese americans from getting harassed or possibly maimed from angry americans.
to prevent sabotage and spying. the germans and italians werent put in concentration camps because they werent considered that big of a threat. they didnt have a big navy like japan that could attack americas coastlines and cities with battleships and aircraft carriers or have the means to launch a full scale amphibious invasion on american soil.

Answer 6

perhaps he have been given the belief from the Brits who did it in Canada till now we interior the united statesYou do understand there have been murders in those interment camps of suspected informers exciting the jap asked us to call it a marvel invasion no longer what it became right into a sneak attack yet today the interment camps are observed as concentration camps you wager passes to bypass into city take hikes interior the mt.

Answer 7

two reasons i would think:

1.) protect the american citizens of japanese-decent to be harassed or attacked by angry citizens that sees them to symobolize japan atrocities at that time.

2.) to minimize sabotage or espionage that may be done by japanese-decent citizens who are sympathatic to the cause of japan when it go to war.

Answer 8

To prevent sabotage and espionage.

While it was harsh and probably unfair...it did work.