TAHPDX: History Topic

Image Citation: Oregon State Archives (http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/exhibits/ww2/threat/eo9066.htm)

Time Period: 1940s

Franklin Roosevelt’s decision to evacuate Japanese-Americans and Japanese aliens living on the West Coast of the U.S. following the outbreak of war with Japan in December, 1941, remains one of the most controversial acts affecting civil liberties in American history.  Although some German and Italian aliens were briefly detained when the war came, they were eventually released and never again troubled.  Indeed, Japanese living in other states were never interned in the course of the war, making the episode even more curious.  However, the commander of the West Coast military district, General John DeWitt, western politicians, many citizens, and influential editorialists were convinced that the Japanese among them represented a potential fifth column ripe for espionage and sabotage to assist invaders from their home country.  Some insisted internment would protect them from vengeful neighbors.  Under their intense pressure, FDR issued Executive Order 9066, to remove them to the various camps where most spent the rest of the war.  Was the president right to approve the evacuation for security reasons?  Was it unnecessary, in light of the fact that no evidence of espionage by Japanese residents of the U.S. ever emerged?  Did the internment do permanent damage to Americans’ understanding of civil liberties? Teachers can learn the pros and cons of this action by studying the many interpretations of FDR’s motives, from the perspectives of 1942 and historians today, and immerse themselves in the abundant documents from local and national sources that vividly illustrate the state of mind of a nation at war.     

This topic is scheduled for completion in 2011. Narrative and links will be posted by the end of June, 2011.