Download Japanese internment Camps

1941 - 1945
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At the start of World War II, William Lyon
Mackenzie King and his government rounded
up anyone they felt posed a threat to the
federal government.
This list included Enemy Aliens, Communists
and Extreme Radicals.
The government rounded up a total of 2,400
people and imprisoned them.
Of that 2,400, half of them were political
opponents who were Communists and
Extreme Radicals
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The War Measures Act (WMA) was created in 1914
by Prime Minister Robert Borden
The WMA gave immense power to the
government. It allowed them to:
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(a) Censor, control and suppress publications, writings,
maps, plans, photographs, communications and all other
means of communication;
(b) Arrest, detain, and deport any citizen they feel
necessary;
(c) Allow martial law (military control) in society;
(d) Permit arrests without habeas corpus (right to due
process) and set up curfews for citizens;
(e) Any person who is an enemy alien would not be
released upon bail or otherwise discharged or tried,
without the consent of the Minister of Justice;
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December 7, 1941 Japan
attacks Pearl Harbour.
That same day President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
declares war on Japan.
Within a few days FDR
rounds up US Japanese
citizens that his
government felt posed a
threat to US citizens.
British Columbians use
the attack on Pearl
Harbour as their means to
“eliminate oriental's from
their province” and
racism becomes
patriotiism as well.
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Jan. 7, 1941
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Dec. 7, 1941
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A Special Committee of the Cabinet War Committee
recommends that Japanese Canadians not be allowed to
volunteer for the armed services on the grounds that there is
strong public opinion against them.
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. Canada declares war on Japan.
Under the War Measures Act, an Order in Council calls upon
all Japanese nationals to register with the Registrar of Enemy
Aliens.
Dec. 8, 1941
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1,200 fishing boats are impounded and put under the control of
the Japanese Fishing Vessel Disposal Committee. Japanese
language newspapers and schools are closed. Insurance policies
are cancelled.
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Dec. 16, 1941
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Feb.7, 1942
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Government passes motion
requiring mandatory registration
of all persons of Japanese origin,
regardless of citizenship, with
Registrar of Enemy Aliens.
All male "enemy aliens" between
the ages of 18-45 are forced to
leave the protected coastal area
before April 1. Most are sent to
work on road camps in the
Rockies.
Feb. 24, 1942
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Government empowers the
Minister of Justice to control the
movements of all persons of
Japanese origin in the protected
area.
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Feb. 26, 1942
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Mar. 25, 1942
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Notice is issued by the Minister
of Justice ordering all persons
of "the Japanese race" to leave
the coast. Cars, cameras and
radios confiscated. Dusk-todawn curfew is imposed.
B.C. Security Commission
initiates a program of assigning
men to road camps and women
and children to ghost town
detention camps.
Oct. 1942
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22,000 persons of whom 75%
are Canadian citizens (60%
Canadian born, 15%
naturalized) have been
uprooted forcibly from the
coast.
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Jan. 23, 1943
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Aug. 4. 1944
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Order in Council grants the Custodian of
Enemy Alien Property the right to dispose
of Japanese Canadian properties in his care
without the owners' consent.
Prime Minister King states it is desirable
that Japanese Canadians are dispersed
across Canada. Applications for "voluntary
repatriation" to Japan are sought by the
Canadian government. Those who do not
must move east of the Rockies to prove
their loyalty to Canada. "Repatriation" for
many means exile to a country they have
never seen before.
Sept. 2, 1944
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All internment camps are ordered closed
and Japanese in internment camps make a
decision to go to Japan or stay in Canada
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1) Before the decision to move Japanese citizens
from British Columbia’s coast to internment
camps, the RCMP concluded to both the B.C.
government and Federal government that
Japanese citizens posed no threat to Canadians.
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“I cannot see that they constitute the slightest
menace to national security”
– General Maurice Pope on the proposed round-up
of Japanese citizens.
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2) At the end of the war, the Canadian
government gave Japanese citizens two
options:
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a) the federal government would pay for the
transportation of their family back to Japan or
b) Japanese citizens would have to find their own
way to live on their own east of the rocky
mountains.
*Note that all of the Japanese citizens personal
items were confiscated and sold at government
auctions. Also 70% of these citizens were
Canadian born citizens.
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It was not until 1988 that our government
apologized for the mistreatment of Japanese
citizens during World War II.
Any Japanese citizen who was still alive in 1988
was given $21,000 for the mistreatment of our
government.
The government would not pay the $21,000 to
survivors of family members who went
through the hardship of the internment camps.
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1) Was it right for the government to set up internment
camps for Japanese Citizens? Yes or No and why?
2) What were the pros and cons of treating the Japanese the
way we did?
3) What kind of reaction would we have in our current era
if we set up such camps for any other ethnic group?
4) Should a government use the War Measures Act? If so,
what would be grounds to use it in our current era?
5) How would you feel if you were a Japanese citizen in
Canada and you knew that your private properties were
sold at government auctions, and that you were (forced*) to
return back to Japan once the war was over?
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1) What was the biggest thing that shocked you
about the government’s policy on internment
camps? Why?
2) Do you think the government was justified
in what they did? Explain
3) Can you see a time when we may have to
use the War Measures Act in our current era,
much like they did during World War II? If so
when and why?