Japanese American Internment Camps during WWII: Duration and Aftermath

The Japanese American internment camps during World War II (WWII) were a significant chapter in American history, marked by a period of injustice and suffering for those who were forced to relocate from their homes. This article delves into the duration of the internment, the complexity of the timeline, and the long-term aftermath for those affected.

Timeline and Duration of Internment

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, 74 days after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. The order excluded Japanese-Americans from the West Coast states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, and it applied to approximately 127,000 Japanese-Americans living on the mainland. By the end of the war, the internment camps housed a significant number of these individuals, many of whom remained there until the end of the war and beyond.

Early Period of Internment (1942-1945)

The internee relocation began with the forced removal from their homes and was enforced by military personnel. After the signing of Executive Order 9066, almost every Japanese-American on the mainland was forcibly relocated to one of the interment camps. In Hawaii, only about 2,000 Japanese-Americans were relocated due to the military commanders' logistical concerns rather than humanitarian or legal objections.

End of Internment in 1945

The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decisions in 1944, specifically Korematsu v. United States and Ex Parte Endo, significantly undermined the basis for internment. The George C. Marshall Foundation reports that while the government could legally expel Japanese-Americans from the West Coast, it could not detain them indefinitely without cause. Despite the earlier push by the Director of the Relocation Program to end internment earlier, it was decided not to end it until after the November 1944 election. Executive Order 9066 was finally rescinded on January 2, 1945, after nearly three years of its implementation.

Aftermath and Legacy of Internment

After the order was rescinded, internees were free to leave the camps. Each was given $25 and a train ticket back to their pre-war place of residence. However, the vast majority of former internees had lost their homes and businesses, making the return to a previous life extremely difficult. Many chose to emigrate to Japan, while others were forcibly "repatriated" against their will. Those who remained in the camps faced significant pressure to leave, with services gradually being shut down to hasten the process. The last camp was closed by March 20, 1946.

Impact on Communities

The internment camps not only caused a flattening of economic and social status for many Japanese-Americans but also had a lasting impact on their communities. The Kansai-zen Japanese American National Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, highlights the significant contributions and resilience of the Japanese-American population in the region, particularly in years following the internment. The museum chronicles the stories of internees who returned to rebuild their lives and communities, often with great difficulties.

Recent Developments and Acknowledgment

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which formally apologized to the Japanese-American community for the internment and compensated those who had been affected. This gesture acknowledges the past injustice and seeks to heal the wounds inflicted during the war years.

Conclusion

The Japanese American internment camps during WWII were a multifaceted and profound experience that lasted from 1942 to 1946, with lingering effects on those who were interned and their communities. The timeline and duration of internment, the fraught aftermath, and the continued efforts to seek justice and recognition serve as important lessons for understanding and addressing historical injustices.