The Effect Of Japanese Internment Camps On The Japanese- Americans

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 Japanese-Americans were transported on buses and trains to camps in California, Utah, Arizona and other states. The internment camps affected the Japanese - Americans by breaking down family structure, emotionally draining them, and physically breaking them.

Family's' paid a major price throughout their internment because family roles were compromised by the government. Fathers were hit hard when their ability to be the head of the household was stripped from them and children no longer depended on them because the government was their sole provider. The common sibling bond was weakened by extreme differences in opinion on the government and treatment of Japanese- Americans. Mothers also suffered from the inability to provide for their family's, since most mothers were not Nisei they were not allowed to work.

Living in the internment camps and facing the American criticisms and outrage was an emotionally draining experience for the Japanese- Americans. Parents lost their sons who went off to fight for the country that had imprisoned their parents, like Lily's brother, Harry, who made the choice to fight for the United States military. On some occasions, riots broke out in the internment camps, resulting in death and injury. In January 1944, a military draft was produced by the government, forcing Japanese Americans in the camps to join the military and fight in World War 2. Many of the draftees refused to join the military until they were given civil rights. This emotional toll was taken on by Lily's brother, Charlie, who disagreed strongly with the invitation and whom decided to return to Japan. American hostility towards Japanese- Americans also caused incredible fear. This was seen in the movie when the initial shock of relocation and disassociation hit Lily's family. Many suicides also took place in the internment camps which were mostly by men. We see this somewhat also in the movie when it is thought that Lilly's father had killed himself due to severe depression. Resentment and shame were some other emotional taxes taken on by the Japanese- Americans, which was illustrated with Charlie's resentment towards his father and his father's shame on himself for being violated and embarrassed by the American government. Children were also affected during this time, unaware of

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