Download Japanese American Interment

Japanese American Internment
Key Terms/Names
Issei- Aliens born in Japan and holding Japanese citizenship.
Nisei- Individuals of Japanese ancestry born in the U.S. and holding U.S. citizenship, children of Issei.
Sansei- Children of the American-born Japanese (Nisei) and holding U.S. citizenship.
Kibei- Japanese born in the U.S. and holding U.S. citizenship; sent back to Japan for a Japanese education
and upbringing.
Executive Order #9066- authorized the evacuation of people of Japanese ancestry; empowered the
government to “provide…transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations…to accomplish the
purpose of this order.”
Western Defense Command (led by General John DeWitt)- Department of the military responsible for the
protection of the West Coast and the Japanese internment program.
War Relocation Authority (WRA)- Responsible for the custody and care of the relocates; managed most of
the camps.
The 442nd Infantry Combat Team- was an Asian American unit composed of mostly Japanese Americans
who fought in Europe during World War II. The families of many of its soldiers were subject
to internment. The 442nd was a self-sufficient fighting force, and fought with uncommon distinction in
Italy, southern France, and Germany. The unit became the most highly decorated regiment in the history
of the United States armed forces, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients. The motto of the 442nd
Regimental Combat Team was “Go for broke.”
Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)- In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that EO #9066 was constitutional.
Ex parte Mitsuye Endo (1944)- The Supreme Court ruled on the same day as Korematsu, that the War
Relocation Authority had no authority to detain concededly loyal Americans.
No-No Boys- refers to Japanese Americans who answered 'no' to the following two questions, when asked
by the United States government on a 1943 Leave Clearance Application Form administered to Interned
Japanese Americans.


"Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty wherever
ordered?"
"Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the
United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of
allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, to any other foreign government, power or
organization?"
1980
Following a 1979 proposal introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye,
Congress establishes Commission on Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) to review the impact of EO 9066 on
Japanese Americans, signed by President Carter as Public Law 96317.
1983
February 22 - Report of the Commission of Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), entitled Personal Justice Denied,
concludes that exclusion, expulsion and incarceration were not
justified by military necessity, and the decisions to do so were based
on race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.
November 10 - In response to a petition of error coram nobis by Fred
Korematsu, the San Francisco Federal District Court reverses his 1942
conviction and rules that the internment was not justified.
1988
August 10 - Civil Liberties Act of 1988, signed by President Reagan
and passed by Congress, provides for a Presidential apology and
appropriates $1.25 billion for reparations of $20,000 to most
internees, evacuees, and others of Japanese ancestry who lost liberty
or property because of discriminatory wartime actions by the
government. Civil Liberties Public Education Fund created to help
teach the public about the internment period.