Japanese Internment Camps - Michelot

Japanese Internment Camps

Lesson Essential Question: Why were Japanese Americans placed in Internment Camps during WWII?

Historical Context

Japanese internment camps were established during World War II by President Franklin D. Roosevelt through his Executive Order 9066. From 1942 to 1945, it was the policy of the U.S. government that people of Japanese descent, including U.S. citizens, would be incarcerated in isolated camps.

Historical Impact!

Enacted in reaction to the Pearl Harbor attacks and the ensuing war, the incarceration of Japanese Americans is considered one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century.

Executive Order 9066

On February 19, 1942, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 with the stated intention of preventing espionage on American Shores.

Rounded up and Removed from their Homes!

Military zones were created in California, Washington and Oregon—states with a large population of Japanese Americans. Then Roosevelt’s executive order forcibly removed Americans of Japanese ancestry from their homes. Executive Order 9066 affected the lives about 120,000 people—the majority of whom were American citizens.

Did you know......

Salinas Assembly Center (U.S. government name) opened on April 27, 1942. The camp was made up of 165 buildings north and east of the racetrack, with 6 buildings erected inside of the racetrack. The total population was 3,608 for the 69 days the camp was in operation.

​The camp was closed on July 4, 1942, with much of the population going to Poston and a handful being sent to Tule Lake.

​Salinas Sports Complex

Italian and German-Americans also faced some backlash. The executive order that forced Japanese-Americans from their homes also put immigrants from Italy and Germany under the watchful eye of the government.

Executive Order 9066 called for the compulsory relocation of more than 10,000 Italian-Americans and restricted the movements of more than 600,000 Italian-Americans nationwide. German Americans also had similar restrictions. Many were compelled to publicly pledge loyalty to the United States.

Multiple Choice

The camps were surrounded by guards who were there to

• protect the Japanese Americans inside

• stop anyone from coming into the camp

• stop anyone from leaving the camp

Multiple Choice

During World War II, some Japanese Americans had to live in a(n) _______________.

• ration

• mobilization area

• civil defense

• internment camp

Multiple Choice

Where is Pearl Harbor?

• Japan

• Hawaii

• Atlantic Ocean

• China

Multiple Choice

What percentage of Japanese people put in internment camps were U.S. citizens?

• 1/3 (33%)

• 1/1 (100%)

• 2/3 (66%)

• 1/4 (25%)

Multiple Choice

Where were most of the Internment Camps

• South

• North

• East Coast

• West Coast

Multiple Choice

Japanese Americans had plenty of time to get their stuff packed before they were taken to the camps

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Japanese Americans were interned as a result of what major event?

• Germany invading Poland

• Pearl Harbor

• The Appeasement Policy

• the death of Franklin Roosevelt

Multiple Choice

Japanese Americans were interned as a result of what major event?

• Germany invading Poland

• Pearl Harbor

• The Appeasement Policy

• the death of Franklin Roosevelt

Multiple Select

After they were released many Japanese Americans

• returned to normal life

• had to start their life over

• had a lof of money

• had lost everything

Open Ended

According to the Multimedia video documentary what was life like in the Japanese internment camps? How did the United States government try to portray the camps?