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America was justified in their treatment of Japanese Americans due to the aggressive actions of Japan prior to the war, the unsure loyalty of Japanese Americans as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the anti-Japanese sentiment that the government expressed which led to the mass fear of Japanese Americans.
During America's attempts to stay a neutral power in World War 2, Japan committed several military offenses against other countries, affecting America. Despite America's efforts to stay an isolationist nation, Japanese attacks forced them to engage in war. On December 13, 1937, Japan attacked several American ships, angering the American people, and making it harder for America to turn the other cheek. In the Telegram by the Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador, the details of the sinking of the USS Panay were revealed. United States’ vessels were conducting their own business when Japanese bombing planes attacked. This act further shows how Japanese aggression towards the United States cultivated American doubt towards Japanese Americans (Doc I). Prior to this event, Japan had attacked China at the Marco Polo Bridge in 1937. This led to President Roosevelt delivering his Quarantine Speech in which he advocated for further neutrality, damaging the already strained relationship with Japan. On December 1, 1941 FDR wrote a Draft Memorandum to Secretary of State, Cordell Hull and Under Secretary of State, Summer Welles. He informed Hull and Welles of the increased Japanese forces in Indochina and believed that this would lead to further aggression in the Pacific, including the Philippines (Doc H). These continued attacks of the Japanese caused more friction between the Japanese and America, ultimately hurting the trustworthiness of Japanese Americans in America’s viewpoint.
The government itself turned against Japanese Americans when they publicized their doubts about them, turning the American people against Japanese Americans. In the Copy of the Conference with General De Witt, Dewitt reveals why the government distrusted Japanese Americans. General De Witt, along with many other government officials, believed that the Japanese Americans could have been spies. Of the 117,000 native born Japanese any Japanese American could have come over from Japan to find out secret American information (Doc B). The fear that plagued America of an attack by the Japanese warranted their treatment of Japanese Americans. In order to avoid security breaches during WWII, in 1942 the US took control of the Japanese-Americans and put them in camps. The Americans feared that they were in danger because of the Japanese. Executive Order 9066 then forced all the Japanese-Americans from the West Coast to concentration camps. In DeWitt's final report, he stated that the Japanese race was an enemy race and whites who resided in Japan must put aside their race and be loyal Japanese citizens who are ready to fight and die, if necessary, for Japan (Doc F). During the internment of the Japanese, the US was preparing for war and Congress passed the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which required the registration and fingerprint of all aliens over fourteen years of age. A year after, the FBI compiled a list of 'dangerous' Japanese and other aliens to protect the US from spies helping the enemy country. These actions led by the government against the Japanese Americans affirmed the country's fear of the Japanese.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, America experienced a sense of fear and paranoia about Japanese American loyalty. The newspaper headline showing the attack of the Japanese on Hawaii reveals the severity of the attack on American safety (Doc J). The bombing of Pearl Harbor deeply affected the American people and made them question whether or not they could trust Japanese Americans. In the political cartoon, loyal Japanese Americans are shown being taken out of harm’s way (Doc D). America committed this act out of anxiety and concern over the integrity of Japanese Americans. However, they also wanted to protect the loyal Japanese Americans from people who might want to exact revenge against them. The government put the Japanese Americans into internment camps for their own safety. In the Japanese loyalty questionnaire, Japanese Americans were given a set of questions that adequately distinguished the loyal and disloyal Japanese Americans. Those who were revealed to be disloyal were taken to concentration camps since America had no other option than to isolate those they believed were a threat to American safety (Doc C). After the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, America was very on guard about Japanese American loyalty. Nevertheless they were also aware of the Japanese Americans that were loyal which ultimately explains their actions towards Japanese Americans.
In conclusion, America was justified and had good reason to relocate the Japanese into camps. The Japanese were overly aggressive prior to the war as well as during the war. Also, since it is Japanese custom to stay loyal to your emperor and country, American had enough doubt to send these Japanese away for the time being. Lastly, American feared the Japanese. There was no telling what would happen next, and that suspicion and fear and doubt, is enough evidence to segregate suspects into a controlled area. America had all the right reasons to transfer the unpredictable Japanese.
During America's attempts to stay a neutral power in World War 2, Japan committed several military offenses against other countries, affecting America. Despite America's efforts to stay an isolationist nation, Japanese attacks forced them to engage in war. On December 13, 1937, Japan attacked several American ships, angering the American people, and making it harder for America to turn the other cheek. In the Telegram by the Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador, the details of the sinking of the USS Panay were revealed. United States’ vessels were conducting their own business when Japanese bombing planes attacked. This act further shows how Japanese aggression towards the United States cultivated American doubt towards Japanese Americans (Doc I). Prior to this event, Japan had attacked China at the Marco Polo Bridge in 1937. This led to President Roosevelt delivering his Quarantine Speech in which he advocated for further neutrality, damaging the already strained relationship with Japan. On December 1, 1941 FDR wrote a Draft Memorandum to Secretary of State, Cordell Hull and Under Secretary of State, Summer Welles. He informed Hull and Welles of the increased Japanese forces in Indochina and believed that this would lead to further aggression in the Pacific, including the Philippines (Doc H). These continued attacks of the Japanese caused more friction between the Japanese and America, ultimately hurting the trustworthiness of Japanese Americans in America’s viewpoint.
The government itself turned against Japanese Americans when they publicized their doubts about them, turning the American people against Japanese Americans. In the Copy of the Conference with General De Witt, Dewitt reveals why the government distrusted Japanese Americans. General De Witt, along with many other government officials, believed that the Japanese Americans could have been spies. Of the 117,000 native born Japanese any Japanese American could have come over from Japan to find out secret American information (Doc B). The fear that plagued America of an attack by the Japanese warranted their treatment of Japanese Americans. In order to avoid security breaches during WWII, in 1942 the US took control of the Japanese-Americans and put them in camps. The Americans feared that they were in danger because of the Japanese. Executive Order 9066 then forced all the Japanese-Americans from the West Coast to concentration camps. In DeWitt's final report, he stated that the Japanese race was an enemy race and whites who resided in Japan must put aside their race and be loyal Japanese citizens who are ready to fight and die, if necessary, for Japan (Doc F). During the internment of the Japanese, the US was preparing for war and Congress passed the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which required the registration and fingerprint of all aliens over fourteen years of age. A year after, the FBI compiled a list of 'dangerous' Japanese and other aliens to protect the US from spies helping the enemy country. These actions led by the government against the Japanese Americans affirmed the country's fear of the Japanese.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, America experienced a sense of fear and paranoia about Japanese American loyalty. The newspaper headline showing the attack of the Japanese on Hawaii reveals the severity of the attack on American safety (Doc J). The bombing of Pearl Harbor deeply affected the American people and made them question whether or not they could trust Japanese Americans. In the political cartoon, loyal Japanese Americans are shown being taken out of harm’s way (Doc D). America committed this act out of anxiety and concern over the integrity of Japanese Americans. However, they also wanted to protect the loyal Japanese Americans from people who might want to exact revenge against them. The government put the Japanese Americans into internment camps for their own safety. In the Japanese loyalty questionnaire, Japanese Americans were given a set of questions that adequately distinguished the loyal and disloyal Japanese Americans. Those who were revealed to be disloyal were taken to concentration camps since America had no other option than to isolate those they believed were a threat to American safety (Doc C). After the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, America was very on guard about Japanese American loyalty. Nevertheless they were also aware of the Japanese Americans that were loyal which ultimately explains their actions towards Japanese Americans.
In conclusion, America was justified and had good reason to relocate the Japanese into camps. The Japanese were overly aggressive prior to the war as well as during the war. Also, since it is Japanese custom to stay loyal to your emperor and country, American had enough doubt to send these Japanese away for the time being. Lastly, American feared the Japanese. There was no telling what would happen next, and that suspicion and fear and doubt, is enough evidence to segregate suspects into a controlled area. America had all the right reasons to transfer the unpredictable Japanese.