Japanese Internment Camps
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On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D.Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066,
which called for the eviction and internment of all Japanese Americans. After Pearl
Harbor, all Japanese were looked upon as being capable of sabotage. The interments
began in April 1942. The Japanese-Americans were transported on buses and trains to
camps in California, Utah, Arizona and other states. They were always under military
guard. The Japanese-Americans were housed in livestock stalls in the beginning, or in
windowless shacks that were crowded and lacked sufficient ventilation, electricity and
sanitation facilities. There was also a shortage of food and medicines.
The internment camps were located in remote, uninhabitable areas. In the desert
camps daytime temperatures often reached 100 degrees or more. And sub-zero winters
were common in the northern camps. Some of the camp names were; Angel Park, Sharp
Park, Tuna Canyon and Manzanar. The camps were guarded by barbed wire and guard
towers. Armed guards patrolled the perimeters and were instructed to shoot anyone
attempting to escape. The barracks consisted of tar paper over two-by-six wood
boards with no insulation. Many families were assigned to one barracks and lived
together with no privacy. Meals were served in mess halls and the lines for food were
The Essay on Japanese American internment of 1942
The Japanese American internment which took place during the second world war referred to the relocation and confinement of over 100,000 people who were Japanese Americans or nationals of Japan. These people were taken to housing facilities which were commonly known as the war relocation camps. This internment was carried out selectively in the United States with most of those who were interned ...
very long. These people lost their homes and businesses. Over 120,000
Japanese-Americans were involved in these relocations. Some had even lost their sons
who had fought for the country that had imprisoned their parents. On December 17,
1944 President Roosevelt announced the revocation of Executive Order 9066.
