History of the Japanese-Californian internment camps and the social Research Paper

History of the Japanese-Californian internment camps and the social and psycological impact of internment - Research Paper Example Extensive research into the accounts of the forced relocation and internment will uncover a tragic shift to the Japanese Californian culture, their quest to assimilate and recover in a post WWII world and the legacy that remains today. Although the core of my research will be on the social impact that the relocation and internment had on the Japanese Californian psyche, I also plan on providing a historical foundation for the key events that led to the dramatic act of forced removal by the United States government. Starting with Executive Order 9066, I plan to discuss the formation of the Wartime Civilian Control Administration and War Relocation Authority, the planning and staging of the assembly centers and then life behind the fences of internment camps. This dramatic experience of internment caused Japanese Californians to be ashamed of their heritage, and left a deep and lingering scar that took two generations of recovery. Introduction The relocation and internment of Japanese- Americans during the World War II had a phenomenal impact on their identity, culture, and their American experience. The Second War provided Japanese Americans with a mixed experience; for many, who faced forcible relocation from their homes and businesses, it was a shocking experience. Wartime embedded a deep and shameful scar on the American conscience. During this period, Americans of Japanese ancestry underwent forced detention devoid of due process. The roots of the ensuing prejudice of Americans of Japanese ancestry can be traced to myths, stereotypes, and unfounded fears persistent within the society. The stereotypes and fears proliferating at the time combined with economic self-interest contributed to the rise in racial antipathy (CWRC 1997, p.27).1 This provided a rich ground for the growth of politics of prejudice and resultant discriminatory laws. This bred hostility towards Americans of Japanese descent, and failure in political leadership culminated in the relocation a nd internment of the Japanese Americans during wartime years. The rationale for the prejudicial policy hinged on military necessity (Lee 1998, p.405).2 The relocation and internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry was in essence racial discrimination, which resulted to emotional pain and suffering of the detainees. The severity of the relocation and internment was compounded by the fact that Americans of Japanese ancestry remained detained, while some of their sons were fighting in the military. The Japanese-Americans were fighting to defend the precise rights their families that were blatantly denied. The execution of the order was highly discriminative as espoused by the fact that there was no exclusionary order against citizens of either German or Italian ancestry, both of which were â€Å"enemies† during the war. Official actions against supposed enemy aliens of other nationalities exhibited high individualization and selectiveness compared to those actions imposed on t he ethnic Japanese. The perceived disloyalty is disputable judging by the record number of Nisei soldiers who came back from the battle fields of Europe as the top, decorated and distinguished combat unit of World War II. The Context of Relocation and Internment Policy The exclusion and removal of ethnic Japanese