Japanese Incarceration

AP Lang

Issei

First-generation Japanese immigrants to the United States, often distinguished as those who faced significant discrimination and alienation during World War II.

Nissei

Second-generation Japanese Americans born to Issei parents, often facing cultural challenges due to their dual heritage.

Sansei

Third-generation Japanese Americans, typically the grandchildren of Issei, who grew up in the United States.

Yonsei

Fourth-generation Japanese Americans, typically descendants of Issei immigrants, often with less direct connection to their Japanese heritage.

Kibei

Second-generation Japanese Americans who were educated in Japan and returned to the United States.

Nikkei

Japanese descendants living outside Japan, including immigrants and their descendants.

Yellow Peril

A racially charged term used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe the perceived threat of Asian immigration, particularly from China and Japan, to Western societies.

Incarceration

during World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and imprisoned in internment camps by the U.S. government.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression used to replace one that may be considered harsh or blunt.

Connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word that goes beyond its literal definition, often carrying emotional weight.

Denotation

the literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

5th Column

A group of individuals within a nation who are suspected of collaborating with enemy forces, often considered traitors.

Alien Land Acts

laws that restricted land ownership for Japanese immigrants and their descendants in the United States, particularly California, during the early 20th century.

Perpetual Foreigner Syndrome

A societal perception that immigrants or individuals of certain ethnic backgrounds are perpetually foreign, regardless of their citizenship or length of residence.

Redress

The act of making amends or seeking compensation for the injustices suffered by Japanese Americans during World War II, particularly regarding their internment.

Reparations

compensation for injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II, including wrongful incarceration and loss of property.