The Japanese- American Internment Camps
During World War II, the United States imprisoned over 127,000 citizens who had Japanese ancestry. The United States having the name of “ the Free country” locked up the Japanese. We were suspecting/ doubting our Japanese- American of their loyalty because of the attack on Pearl Harbor.This sort of "paranoia" quickly spread because of the large number of Japanese in the West. President Roosevelt signed an executive order to in February 1942 ordering the relocation of all Americans of Japanese ancestry to concentration camps in the interior of the United States.
Evacuation orders were quickly posted in Japanese-American neighborhoods, and many people sold their homes, stores, etc. Until the camps were actually completed most families lived in temporary centers. When 10 of the camps were finally completed (mostly in the West) Japanese families started to live in tar-paper barracks, families dined together, children were expected to go to school, and adults could work for $5 per day, etc.
In 1944, two and a half years after signing the Executive Order, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rescinded the order. The last internment camp was closed by the end of 1945.
Evacuation orders were quickly posted in Japanese-American neighborhoods, and many people sold their homes, stores, etc. Until the camps were actually completed most families lived in temporary centers. When 10 of the camps were finally completed (mostly in the West) Japanese families started to live in tar-paper barracks, families dined together, children were expected to go to school, and adults could work for $5 per day, etc.
In 1944, two and a half years after signing the Executive Order, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rescinded the order. The last internment camp was closed by the end of 1945.