The US government detained over 110,000 Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II due to fears they may pose a security threat, despite little evidence found of espionage. The Supreme Court upheld this action in Korematsu v. United States, deferring to the government's claim of military necessity. While the US later apologized and provided compensation, some believe similar actions targeting groups could potentially happen again during times of war or crisis.

1. Aim: Should the government restrict the rights of a
group that it believes to be a threat?
5/1/2012
DO NOW: Complete DO NOW and copy AIM and
Date.
Announcements:
HW #5 due Thurs at 11:59
Vocab sheet due 5/8
Mock Regents 5/9

2. Aim: Should the government restrict the rights of a
group that it believes to be a threat?
February 27, 2009
An accused enemy combatant, who has been held for more
than five years at a Navy brig in South Carolina, is expected to
be sent to Illinois to stand trial in a civilian courtroom. The
Justice Department has not yet announced charges against Ali
al-Marri. The Bush administration had claimed terror suspects
caught in the U.S. could be held indefinitely without charges.
Do you agree with the US government’s treatment of Ali al-
Marri in order to prevent further terrorist attacks against the
US?

3. Aim: Should the government restrict the rights of a
group that it believes to be a threat?
Japanese in America
• Over 100,000 Japanese immigrated to US from
1890s
• Mostly resided on the west coast (California,
Oregon, Hawaii, etc)
• The white Americans saw the Japanese as
economic competition for land and jobs,
especially during the Great Depression ->
“Yellow Flood”
• Anti-Japanese sentiment intensified after the
bombing of Pearl Harbor

4. After Pearl Harbor, FDR declares of war on Japan
• Suspicion towards the Japanese grew out of fear that Japanese
Americans were spying for Japan
• FBI raided over 1,000 Japanese Americans homes suspected of
espionage
• Rarely any evidence proved Japanese Americans were spies
“Of all the races ineligible to [sic] citizenship, the Japanese are the
least assailable and the most dangerous to the country. … They
come … for the purpose of colonizing and establishing here the
proud Yamato race. They never cease to be Japanese.”
-Valentine S. McClatchy,
A wealthy California Newspaper owner testifying to Congress
If you were Japanese American, and your neighbor and
country accused you of being treasonous, what would you
do?

5. Executive Order 9066
What is an Executive Order: a President's or
Governor's declaration which has the force of
law and does not require the consent of the
legislature.
• Ordered by FDR
• February 19, 1942
• Removal of those of Japanese ancestry from
CA, WA, OR, & AZ.
• 110,000 Japanese Americans removed from
their homes
• 1/3- Issei- Immigrated from Japan
• 2/3 – Nisei – 2nd generation (born in America)

6. How did the United States carry out
the Executive Order?
Directions: While listening to the clips, take
down notes on how the lives of Japanese
Americans changed when FDR issued the
Executive Order 9066.
FBI Raids Executing the Order Life in Camps

7. Internment Process
• FBI raided many Japanese homes looking for
evidence against Japanese Americans, were unable
to find any
• Internment was indefinite
• Internees were given 48 noticed to report to a bus
terminal, bring all of their belongs, and then sent to
an undisclosed location
• Most Japanese Americans were forced to sell all of
their property & their possessions

9. Life in Internment Camps
• Families were given barracks to live with little to
no privacy (curtains = walls)
• Weather was harsh and sickness was common
• Forbidden from leaving camps
• Children attended school in the camps
• Japanese were not used to the foods provided by
the US Military
• Adults were given jobs, mostly producing materials
for war
• Men were drafted to the military

10. Loyalty Oath: Check Yes or No
1. "Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the
United States on combat duty wherever ordered?"
____YES ____NO
2. "Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United
States of America and faithfully defend the United
States from the Japanese Emperor any or all attack by
foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of
allegiance or obedience or any other foreign
government, power, or organization?”
____YES ____NO

11. • Fred Korematsu was a U.S.-born Japanese
American man who decided to stay in San
Leandro, California and knowingly violate
Executive Order 9066 because he refused to
be separated from his girlfriend who was
Italian-American.
• May 30, 1942, however, government
authorities finally tracked him down.
• After his conviction in a federal court, the
judge sentenced Korematsu to five years
probation. The military immediately took
him into custody and sent him to the
relocation camp at Topaz, Utah. The
American Civil Liberties

12. Korematsu vs. United States
Issue
• The Court ruled on whether the President and Congress went
beyond their war powers by implementing exclusion and
restricting the rights of Americans of Japanese descent.
Argument
• Korematsu argued that the Executive Order violated his basic
civil rights.
• While, the United States Government argued that the
executive order was issued because it was extremely
concerned about nation’s security.
Which side won? Why?

13. 4 Corners Debate
1. Was the U.S. Government justified in interning people of
Japanese descent?
2. During “times of war” should the government have
unlimited power if it is aimed to protect America and its
citizens?
3. In 1988, Ronald Reagan issued a formal apology to the
Japanese American interned at the Camps. In addition he
signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (the Japanese American
Redress Bill) which provided compensation of $20,000 for
each victim of the internment. Was this sufficient to make
amends for the internment?
4. Could this is happen again? Why or why not?

14. Aftermath