United States’ Policies towards American Citizens from Japanese Origins during World War Two (1941-1945)
Mohammad A. Bani Salameh, History Department, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Abstract
This study is intended to shed light on the conditions of Japanese-Americans during the period between 1941 and 1945 through a careful investigation of measures taken by the US government against American citizens from Japanese decent. The study investigates issues related to their legal status as American citizens when war erupted between their country of citizenship and residence and country of origin. These measures are outlined with their justifications and then the socio-economic consequences of these measures on the Japanese minority in the United States are discussed. The study concludes that security measures, war hysteria, and the intrinsic racial discrimination within the American society overpowered all civil rights guaranteed by the constitution to all citizens at all times. Japanese Americans were thus treated as prisoners of war or potential enemies. This conclusion is supported by a series of procedures and laws formulated to justify their deportation, arrest, or detention in prison-like Ghettos.