Japanese American Internment

Executive

Order

9066

What is an Interment Camp?

• Internment means to confine or impound especially during a war.

Where were they?

Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California and 3,850 miles from Japan. The distance between Tokyo, Japan and Los Angeles, CA is 5,478

The History of Japanese Immigration

• 1853: Commodore Perry• 1869: Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm• 1880: 148 Japanese in US• 1884: Start of legal immigration (via Hawaii)• 1890: 2,038 Japanese in US• 1907: Gentlemen's Agreement• 1908 – 1924: Picture Brides• 1910: Angel Island• 1924: Immigration Act of 1924

• August 18, 1941– In a letter to President Roosevelt,

Representative John Dingell of Michigan suggests incarcerating 10,000 Hawaiian-Japanese-Americans as hostages to “ensure good behavior” on the part of Japan.

• November 12, 1941– Fifteen Japanese American businessmen and

community leaders in Los Angeles Little Tokyo are picked up in an F.B.I. raid.

– “Our people are 100% loyal to America.”

Pearl HarborDecember 07, 1941• “A Day Which Will Live in

Infamy. . .”• Within 48 hours, 1,291 Issei are in

custody• These men have no formal charges

against them• They are forbidden to see their

families.