PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066
A few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, HI in February 1942 President Roosevelt ordered the removal of all citizens of the United States that were of Japanese descent to be rounded up and placed into internment camps (some would call them concentration camps) at the urging of advisors who claimed that these Japanese-Americans posed a significant threat to the security of the United States. Prejudices played a large part in this action because of the attack on Pearl Harbor and many Americans still held the Japanese people as whole responsible for the death and destruction caused on December 7th, 1941. Most of this attitude was unjustified because the majority of the Japanese-Americans were loyal Americans and remained so even after they were eventually released from the internment camps. The only state exempt from this action was Hawaii because over a third of the Hawaiian population was of Japanese decent and this would have a detrimental effect on the Hawaiian economy.
A point that I would like to stress is that these were American citizens who were rounded up and wrongfully imprisoned, who never stood trail or faced an accuser which is the right of every American citizen. These people were forced to abandon their businesses, their homes and, in many cases, their families as some individuals were taken elsewhere and held, again without trial, for years. The Japanese-Americans suffered severe economic losses, personal humiliation and, in some cases, death, due to this relocation. I would also like to stress that this primarily only affected Japanese-American citizens. German and Italian-American citizens did not experience this same mass relocation and imprisonment although there were isolated incidents where German and Italian-Americans were detained. This short film demonstrates how the Japanese-Americans were relocated and treated (Keep in mind this film was made by the War Department and not seen from the point of view of those held captive during this time).
A few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, HI in February 1942 President Roosevelt ordered the removal of all citizens of the United States that were of Japanese descent to be rounded up and placed into internment camps (some would call them concentration camps) at the urging of advisors who claimed that these Japanese-Americans posed a significant threat to the security of the United States. Prejudices played a large part in this action because of the attack on Pearl Harbor and many Americans still held the Japanese people as whole responsible for the death and destruction caused on December 7th, 1941. Most of this attitude was unjustified because the majority of the Japanese-Americans were loyal Americans and remained so even after they were eventually released from the internment camps. The only state exempt from this action was Hawaii because over a third of the Hawaiian population was of Japanese decent and this would have a detrimental effect on the Hawaiian economy.
A point that I would like to stress is that these were American citizens who were rounded up and wrongfully imprisoned, who never stood trail or faced an accuser which is the right of every American citizen. These people were forced to abandon their businesses, their homes and, in many cases, their families as some individuals were taken elsewhere and held, again without trial, for years. The Japanese-Americans suffered severe economic losses, personal humiliation and, in some cases, death, due to this relocation. I would also like to stress that this primarily only affected Japanese-American citizens. German and Italian-American citizens did not experience this same mass relocation and imprisonment although there were isolated incidents where German and Italian-Americans were detained. This short film demonstrates how the Japanese-Americans were relocated and treated (Keep in mind this film was made by the War Department and not seen from the point of view of those held captive during this time).
Another short film that shows a different perspective of the internment camps
One final film that is a combination documentary and viewpoint from descendants of Japanese-Americans whose parents or grandparents experienced the internment camps first hands.
Interned Japanese-Americans Receive Closure
Reparations
In the 1970’s, through the perseverance of the second generation Japanese-Americans (Nisei) followed by a large number of the first generation who had spent time in internment camps the suggestion of getting a government apology and individual reparations became a major discussion throughout the Japanese-American community. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed a law to create the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). This commission was created to perform a study of Executive Order 9066, its following war orders, and the effects of the Japanese-American community on the West Cost. Three years later, the commission concluded that the incarceration of Japanese-Americans had not been justified. They suggest because their civil rights were taken away.
The report said that the decision to incarcerate was based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.” The Commission authorized the solution of an official government apology and a payment of $20,000.00 to each survivor of the internment; furthermore a public education fund to help ensure that this will not happen again would be established. On August 10, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 into law. On November 21, 1989, President George H.W. Bush signed another bill sending payments to surviving internees between 1990 and 1998. Finally in 1990, they began to receive individual payments and a letter of apology. This would close one of the darkest chapters in American history on the abuse of power and the restriction of citizens civil rights.
Please follow this link to watch a video of President Reagan making the official apology to Japanese Internment Survivors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MooPi2Ycuxo
Reparations
In the 1970’s, through the perseverance of the second generation Japanese-Americans (Nisei) followed by a large number of the first generation who had spent time in internment camps the suggestion of getting a government apology and individual reparations became a major discussion throughout the Japanese-American community. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed a law to create the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). This commission was created to perform a study of Executive Order 9066, its following war orders, and the effects of the Japanese-American community on the West Cost. Three years later, the commission concluded that the incarceration of Japanese-Americans had not been justified. They suggest because their civil rights were taken away.
The report said that the decision to incarcerate was based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.” The Commission authorized the solution of an official government apology and a payment of $20,000.00 to each survivor of the internment; furthermore a public education fund to help ensure that this will not happen again would be established. On August 10, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 into law. On November 21, 1989, President George H.W. Bush signed another bill sending payments to surviving internees between 1990 and 1998. Finally in 1990, they began to receive individual payments and a letter of apology. This would close one of the darkest chapters in American history on the abuse of power and the restriction of citizens civil rights.
Please follow this link to watch a video of President Reagan making the official apology to Japanese Internment Survivors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MooPi2Ycuxo
Below is the text of the Executive Order President Roosevelt issued ordering the internment in February of 1942.
Executive Order No. 9066
The President Executive Order
Authorizing the Secretary of War to Prescribe Military Areas
Whereas the successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities as defined in Section 4, Act of April 20, 1918, 40 Stat. 533, as amended by the Act of November 30, 1940, 54 Stat. 1220, and the Act of August 21, 1941, 55 Stat. 655 (U.S.C., Title 50, Sec. 104); Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever he or any designated Commander deems such action necessary or desirable, to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of War or the said Military Commander, and until other arrangements are made, to accomplish the purpose of this order. The designation of military areas in any region or locality shall supersede designations of prohibited and restricted areas by the Attorney General under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, and shall supersede the responsibility and authority of the Attorney General under the said Proclamations in respect of such prohibited and restricted areas. I hereby further authorize and direct the Secretary of War and the said Military Commanders to take such other steps as he or the appropriate Military Commander may deem advisable to enforce compliance with the restrictions applicable to each Military area hereinabove authorized to be designated, including the use of Federal troops and other Federal Agencies, with authority to accept assistance of state and local agencies. I hereby further authorize and direct all Executive Departments, independent establishments and other Federal Agencies, to assist the Secretary of War or the said Military Commanders in carrying out this Executive Order, including the furnishing of medical aid, hospitalization, food, clothing, transportation, use of land, shelter, and other supplies, equipment, utilities, facilities, and services. This order shall not be construed as modifying or limiting in any way the authority heretofore granted under Executive Order No. 8972, dated December 12, 1941, nor shall it be construed as limiting or modifying the duty and responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with respect to the investigation of alleged acts of sabotage or the duty and responsibility of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, prescribing regulations for the conduct and control of alien enemies, except as such duty and responsibility is superseded by the designation of military areas hereunder.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House, February 19, 1942.
Executive Order No. 9066
The President Executive Order
Authorizing the Secretary of War to Prescribe Military Areas
Whereas the successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities as defined in Section 4, Act of April 20, 1918, 40 Stat. 533, as amended by the Act of November 30, 1940, 54 Stat. 1220, and the Act of August 21, 1941, 55 Stat. 655 (U.S.C., Title 50, Sec. 104); Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever he or any designated Commander deems such action necessary or desirable, to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of War or the said Military Commander, and until other arrangements are made, to accomplish the purpose of this order. The designation of military areas in any region or locality shall supersede designations of prohibited and restricted areas by the Attorney General under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, and shall supersede the responsibility and authority of the Attorney General under the said Proclamations in respect of such prohibited and restricted areas. I hereby further authorize and direct the Secretary of War and the said Military Commanders to take such other steps as he or the appropriate Military Commander may deem advisable to enforce compliance with the restrictions applicable to each Military area hereinabove authorized to be designated, including the use of Federal troops and other Federal Agencies, with authority to accept assistance of state and local agencies. I hereby further authorize and direct all Executive Departments, independent establishments and other Federal Agencies, to assist the Secretary of War or the said Military Commanders in carrying out this Executive Order, including the furnishing of medical aid, hospitalization, food, clothing, transportation, use of land, shelter, and other supplies, equipment, utilities, facilities, and services. This order shall not be construed as modifying or limiting in any way the authority heretofore granted under Executive Order No. 8972, dated December 12, 1941, nor shall it be construed as limiting or modifying the duty and responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with respect to the investigation of alleged acts of sabotage or the duty and responsibility of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice under the Proclamations of December 7 and 8, 1941, prescribing regulations for the conduct and control of alien enemies, except as such duty and responsibility is superseded by the designation of military areas hereunder.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House, February 19, 1942.