What event led to America entering World War II?

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

What was the purpose of the loyalty questionnaire given to Japanese Americans during World War II?

To determine individuals' fates based on responses.

By working in various roles and engaging in cultural activities.

Lack of evidence of disloyalty found.

Japanese Americans faced severe discrimination and unjust treatment post-Pearl Harbor, with mass removal and incarceration under Executive Order 9066, reflecting fear and racism prevalent in American society at the time.
Despite the hardships of incarceration, Japanese Americans in the camps strived for normalcy, maintaining a sense of community, education, and cultural traditions, while also contributing significantly to American history through endeavors like the 442nd Regiment's heroic actions, showcasing resilience and patriotism amidst adversity.

What event led to America entering World War II?
Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.
How many Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes during World War II?
Nearly 120,000 people.
What was the purpose of the loyalty questionnaire given to Japanese Americans during World War II?
To determine individuals' fates based on responses.
How did Japanese Americans strive for normalcy in incarceration camps?
By working in various roles and engaging in cultural activities.
What led to the bipartisan commission attributing the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II to war hysteria, racial prejudice, and political leadership failures?
Lack of evidence of disloyalty found.

00:00

December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, leading to America entering the war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.
120,000 persons of Japanese heritage lived on the west coast, with two-thirds being American Citizens.
Japanese Americans faced widespread fear and racism post-Pearl Harbor, with loyalty questioned.
Japanese nationals were labeled "enemy aliens," leading to curfews, frozen bank assets, and registration.
FBI arrested hundreds of Issei leaders, sending them to prison, like on Bainbridge Island.
Japanese American homes were searched, contraband confiscated, and personal items destroyed to avoid appearing too Japanese.
President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, leading to the mass removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans.
Nearly 120,000 people were forced to leave their homes, with only six days to pack and sell belongings.
Japanese Americans were assigned family numbers, required to wear tags, and transported to incarceration camps.
In Washington State, the Columbia River divided Military Area 1 (exclusion zone) and Military Area 2 (non-exclusion zone), with strict restrictions in place.

19:10

United States immigration law barred Asian immigrants from citizenship.
Asians were viewed as invaders, not immigrants, sparking fear of losing a white-dominated America.
The concept of the "Yellow Peril" portrayed Asians as dangerous and different.
Alien Land Laws prohibited non-citizens from owning land, impacting Japanese farmers.
Anti-Asian sentiments grew on the west coast, leading to violence against Japanese immigrants.
Labor unions formed the Asiatic Exclusion League to halt Japanese immigration.
A Gentlemen's Agreement in 1907 with Japan restricted Japanese laborers from entering the U.S.
Japanese immigrants found loopholes in land ownership laws, leasing land on the Yakama Indian Reservation.
Japanese families in the Yakima Valley excelled in farming, producing a majority of tomatoes by the 1930s.
Japanese Americans in the Yakima Valley developed a vibrant community with businesses, churches, and schools.

37:02

Japanese Americans in incarceration camps lacked privacy, leading some to create makeshift partitions using cardboard.
Despite harsh conditions, Japanese Americans strived for normalcy, with Nisei working in various roles like nurses, teachers, and farmers, earning up to $19 monthly.
Children in the camps attended school, played sports, and engaged in cultural activities like Boy Scouts.
The camp had a diverse range of teachers, including dance, calligraphy, and flower arrangement instructors.
Heart Mountain High School hosted home games, with teams from neighboring schools bussed in despite the barbed wire surroundings.
George Hirahara and his son Frank secretly captured over 2,000 images in the camp, establishing a darkroom beneath their barrack.
The 442nd Regiment, composed of Japanese Americans, became one of the most decorated in American history, rescuing the 'Lost Battalion' in a significant battle.
A loyalty questionnaire divided families and determined individuals' fates based on their responses, leading to segregation and further hardships.
Post-war, Japanese Americans faced challenges reintegrating into society, with discrimination and lack of resources hindering their return to normalcy.
The Japanese American community, through cultural traditions like making Mochi and movements for redress, sought to preserve their heritage and educate others about their past experiences.

54:47

120,000 Japanese-Americans were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, with no evidence of disloyalty found, leading to a bipartisan commission in the 1980s attributing the incarceration to war hysteria, racial prejudice, and political leadership failures.