Potential Essay Topics: Potential Essay Topics: 1. 1. Identify the arguments for and against Identify the arguments for and against dropping the atomic bomb. Identify who dropping the atomic bomb. Identify who had ultimate responsibility for the had ultimate responsibility for the decision. Discuss the merits of each decision. Discuss the merits of each side of the argument and take a stand. side of the argument and take a stand. Support your position with details and Support your position with details and facts from the text. facts from the text. 2. 2. Discuss the arguments for and against Discuss the arguments for and against interning Japanese Americans during interning Japanese Americans during WWII. Was it justified? WWII. Was it justified?
Transcript
Potential Essay Topics:Potential Essay Topics:
1.1. Identify the arguments for and against Identify the arguments for and against dropping the atomic bomb. Identify who had dropping the atomic bomb. Identify who had ultimate responsibility for the decision. ultimate responsibility for the decision. Discuss the merits of each side of the Discuss the merits of each side of the argument and take a stand. Support your argument and take a stand. Support your position with details and facts from the text.position with details and facts from the text.
2.2. Discuss the arguments for and against Discuss the arguments for and against interning Japanese Americans during WWII. interning Japanese Americans during WWII. Was it justified? Was it justified?
Causes of InternmentCauses of Internment By far, the main cause of the internments was a By far, the main cause of the internments was a
fear of anyone of Japanese descent following fear of anyone of Japanese descent following Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor.
The US and Japan’s “peaceful” feud before the The US and Japan’s “peaceful” feud before the attack prompted some concern as wellattack prompted some concern as well
In August 1941, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan In August 1941, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan suggested, to President Roosevelt, jailing 10,000 suggested, to President Roosevelt, jailing 10,000 Hawaiian Japanese to ensure “good behavior” on Hawaiian Japanese to ensure “good behavior” on the part of Japan.the part of Japan.
Causes of Internment (cont.)Causes of Internment (cont.) Roosevelt’s presidential Executive Order Roosevelt’s presidential Executive Order
9066 authorized the armed forces to 9066 authorized the armed forces to consider any areas necessary of the US as consider any areas necessary of the US as military areas “from which any or all military areas “from which any or all persons may be excluded,“ essentially the persons may be excluded,“ essentially the Japanese.Japanese.
Economic reasons?Economic reasons?
Effects of InternmentEffects of Internment
Nearly 120,000 Japanese-Americans Nearly 120,000 Japanese-Americans were relocated inland, of which 62% were relocated inland, of which 62% were already American citizens.were already American citizens.
Over 1,000 Japanese, who renounced Over 1,000 Japanese, who renounced their American citizenship, were their American citizenship, were repatriated back to Japanrepatriated back to Japan
Effects of InternmentEffects of Internment
This girl, with her This girl, with her “ID tag,” is part of “ID tag,” is part of one of many one of many families forced families forced inland, out of their inland, out of their homes, due to the homes, due to the internments.internments.
Japanese American teens, 1942In February of 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered that all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast be rounded up and placed in prison camps. These families were awaiting a train to take them to an assembly center in Merced, California; from there, they would be sent to relocation camps in remote inland areas. (National Archives)
Japanese American teens, 1942Japanese American teens, 1942
A depiction of a A depiction of a Japanese general Japanese general during the war, during the war, representing representing someone to be someone to be feared. This fear feared. This fear largely prompted largely prompted the general desire the general desire of America for the of America for the internment.internment.
Executive Order 9066 (excerpt)Executive Order 9066 (excerpt)Whereas, Whereas, the successful prosecution of the war requires every the successful prosecution of the war requires every
possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises and national national-defense material, national-defense premises and national defense utilities …defense utilities …
Now thereforeNow therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of , by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever he or any designated Commander deems such action to be he or any designated Commander deems such action to be necessary or desirable, to prescribe military areas in such places necessary or desirable, to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any persons to enter, remain in, or with respect to which, the right of any persons to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restriction the Secretary of War or leave shall be subject to whatever restriction the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion.
Signed,Signed,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, The White House, February 19, 1942Franklin D. Roosevelt, The White House, February 19, 1942
Facts to Consider…Facts to Consider…March 20, 1944March 20, 1944Forty-three Japanese American soldiers are arrested for refusing to participate in Forty-three Japanese American soldiers are arrested for refusing to participate in combat training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, as a protest of treatment of their combat training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, as a protest of treatment of their families in U.S. camps. Eventually, 106 are arrested for their refusal. Twenty-one families in U.S. camps. Eventually, 106 are arrested for their refusal. Twenty-one are convicted and serve prison time before being paroled in 1946.are convicted and serve prison time before being paroled in 1946.
May 24, 1944May 24, 1944Shoichi James Okamoto is shot to death at Tule Lake by a guard after stopping a Shoichi James Okamoto is shot to death at Tule Lake by a guard after stopping a construction truck at the main gate for permission to pass. Private Bernard Goe, the construction truck at the main gate for permission to pass. Private Bernard Goe, the guard, would be acquitted after being fined a dollar for "unauthorized use of guard, would be acquitted after being fined a dollar for "unauthorized use of government property" --a bullet.government property" --a bullet.
October 27-30, 1944October 27-30, 1944The 442nd Regimental Combat Team rescues an American battalion which had The 442nd Regimental Combat Team rescues an American battalion which had been cut off and surrounded by the enemy. Eight hundred casualties are suffered by been cut off and surrounded by the enemy. Eight hundred casualties are suffered by the 442nd to rescue 211 men. After this rescue, the 442nd is ordered to keep the 442nd to rescue 211 men. After this rescue, the 442nd is ordered to keep advancing in the forest; they would push ahead without relief or rest until November advancing in the forest; they would push ahead without relief or rest until November 9.9.
Japanese InternmentJapanese Internment110,000 Japanese American Interred110,000 Japanese American Interred
Upheld by Upheld by KorematsuKorematsu v. US v. USContributions of Nisei soldiersContributions of Nisei soldiers
““442nd has been recognized as the most 442nd has been recognized as the most decorated unit in United States history. decorated unit in United States history. 18,000 total awards were bestowed upon 18,000 total awards were bestowed upon the 442nd, including 9,500 Purple Hearts, 52 the 442nd, including 9,500 Purple Hearts, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, Seven Distinguished Service Crosses, Seven Distinguished Unit Citations, but only one Distinguished Unit Citations, but only one Congressional Medal of Honor (Crost, Honor Congressional Medal of Honor (Crost, Honor by Fire. 179)” by Fire. 179)” http://www.scu.edu/diversity/442nd.htmlhttp://www.scu.edu/diversity/442nd.html
"Californians have properly objected on the sound "Californians have properly objected on the sound basic grounds that Japanese immigrants are not basic grounds that Japanese immigrants are not capable of assimilation into the American capable of assimilation into the American population... Anyone who has traveled in the Far population... Anyone who has traveled in the Far East knows that the mingling of Asiatic blood with East knows that the mingling of Asiatic blood with European and American blood produces, in nine European and American blood produces, in nine cases out of ten, the most unfortunate results".cases out of ten, the most unfortunate results".
-Franklin D. Roosevelt, regarding the Japanese -Franklin D. Roosevelt, regarding the Japanese occupation in Western America.occupation in Western America.
SOURCE:SOURCE: By Order of the PresidentBy Order of the President, , by Greg Robinsonby Greg Robinson
Korematsu v. USKorematsu v. USJustice Murphy, dissenting.
No one denies, of course, that there were some disloyal persons of Japanese descent on the Pacific Coast who did all in their power to aid their ancestral land. Similar disloyal activities have been engaged in by many persons of German, Italian and even more pioneer stock in our country. But to infer that examples of individual disloyalty prove group disloyalty and justify discriminatory action against the entire group is to deny that under our system of law individual guilt is the sole basis for deprivation of rights.... To give constitutional sanction to that inference in this case, however well-intentioned may have been the military command on the Pacific Coast, is to adopt one of the cruelest of the rationales used by our enemies to destroy the dignity of the individual and to encourage and open the door to discriminatory actions against other minority groups in the passions of tomorrow....
QuestionsQuestions
What were the causes and effects of What were the causes and effects of the internments on America?the internments on America?
What were both the short and long What were both the short and long term impacts of the internments?term impacts of the internments?
What views did leaders such as What views did leaders such as Franklin Roosevelt have concerning Franklin Roosevelt have concerning the internments?the internments?
Atomic BombingAtomic Bombingof Japanof Japan
President Truman had stated: "The only President Truman had stated: "The only language they seem to understand is the one language they seem to understand is the one we have been using to bombard them. When we have been using to bombard them. When
you have to deal with a beast you have to treat you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him like a beast. It is most regrettable but him like a beast. It is most regrettable but
To Bomb or Not to Bomb, p. 751To Bomb or Not to Bomb, p. 751
PROPRO CONCON
In 1941 the British Air Staff advocated that entire cities and towns should be bombed… this would quickly bring about the collapse of civilian morale in Germany. Air Marshall Arthur Harris agreed and when in February 1942, he introduced a policy of area bombing (known in Germany as terror bombing) where entire cities and towns were targeted.
One tactic used was the creation of firestorms. This was achieved by dropping incendiary bombs, filled with highly combustible chemicals such as magnesium, phosphorus or napalm. After the area caught fire, the air above the bombed area, become extremely hot and rose rapidly. Cold air then rushed in at ground level and people were sucked into the fire. The most notable examples of this tactic was in Hamburg (August, 1943), Dresden (February, 1945) and Tokyo (March 1945).
Firebombing of German and Japanese citiesTokyo: 100,000 dead I one night (250,000 total)Dresden
Questions to consider…Questions to consider…
Was the bombing necessary?Was the bombing necessary?
Was it necessary to use both bombs?Was it necessary to use both bombs?
Was it necessary to bomb civilian centers Was it necessary to bomb civilian centers of population?of population?
Does what we know now change whether Does what we know now change whether the decision was justified?the decision was justified?
