Module 8 - Japanese Internment

list justifications for Japanese internment

• Japanese perceived inclination of disloyalty

• internment camps a experiment to assimilate Japanese American

• preventing Japanese American access to military site

• jealousy for superior agriculture

T / F - Japanese Americans actively and consistently participated in internment assimilation programs

False

those who aligned with War Relocation Authority’s pro-assimilation sentiment ostracized

Japanese Americans chose to facilitate schools and continue participating in Japanese culture (ex. flower arrangements, emperor’s birthday)

inu

fence-sitters

those who appealed with pro-American and pro-Japanese sentiment

T / F - Inu’s moderate attitudes were frowned upon in internment camps

True

Many did not appreciate inus for waiting for a side (US v. Japan)

Application for Leave Clearance

questionnaire for interned Japanese Americans meant to determine their national loyalty

included general questions but also controversial:

• Q.27 army enlistment

• Q.28 compliance to forego Japanese ties

Why was Q. 28 (disposing of Japanese national relations) controversial amongst interned Japanese Americans?

many loyal to the US, but not disloyal to Japan

Espionage Act

act in response to youth refusal to partake in military service (per Q. 27 on the clearance application)

T / F - the Espionage Act was effective in goading Japanese Americans into joining the war efforts

False

Many chose to be arrested, about only 1k signed up for the combat unit

Participation more acceptable when voluntary (ie Hawaii w/ 10k signatures)

Tule Lake

site for internment segregation for those seen disloyal to the US

Sokuji Kikoku Hoshi Dan (Organization to Return Immediately to Homeland to Serve)

Tule Lake Japanese American organization to promote Japanese militant culture and return to Japan

T / F - Outside of discriminatory sentiment, there were no physical basis to implement the interment camps

True

President Roosevelt received letter stating internment camps unnecessary

No Japanese Americans convicted of sabotage

1944 Denationalization Act

called for voluntary citizen renunciation

broke US tradition against renunciation of citizenship during wartime

acknowledgement that not all Japanese Americans were traitors

T / F - Post the closing of internment camps, many Japanese Americans were encouraged to return home

False

outmigration dip from loss of farmland, valuables, and entire homes

list reasons for why Japanese Americans would renounce their citizenships

• avoiding military drafts

• loyalty to Japan

• peer pressure

• growing distrust in US constitution

T / F - Despite initial overruling, about 80% of citizenship restoration cases under judge Louis E. Goodman succeeded

True

Gone on basis that renunciation cases involuntary + against 14th amendment

How do the rulings of Japanese Americans who renounced their citizenships reflect a shift in American politic?

• decision to overrule restoration indicative of conservative McCarthy politics

• decision to restore indicative of Cold War Effort to restore Japan

Explain the attitudes towards renunciant Japanese Americans

• ostracized by Japanese loyalist for their allegiance to only a successful post-war Japan

• blamed for making Japanese Americans not appear loyal

The Spoilage

publicized peer pressure narrative of renunciation