Summary
In February 1942, two months after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and brought the United States into World War II (1939–45), President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the secretary of war to define military areas "from which any or all persons may be excluded as deemed necessary or desirable." As a result of this order, more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent—most of whom were U.S. citizens—were placed in internment camps until the war ended three years later. Was the fear of Japanese Americans' sympathy and support for the enemy justified in a time of war, or was internment a racist policy that violated the constitutional rights of loyal U.S. citizens and residents?
This eBook examines the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and delves into the pro and con arguments that surrounded it. It includes a timeline, primary sources, a bibliography, and a "Learn More About" chapter with more information on the topic.