Executive Order 9066: Internment of Japanese Americans

On February 19, 1942, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, a pivotal and controversial directive during World War II. This order authorized the Secretary of War and military commanders to designate certain areas as military zones, effectively paving the way for the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans.

Context and Background

• Pearl Harbor Attack: The order came in the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which propelled the United States into World War II. The attack heightened fears of espionage and sabotage on the West Coast, where a significant population of Japanese Americans resided.

• Racial Prejudice and War Hysteria: Long-standing racial prejudice against Japanese immigrants and their descendants, coupled with wartime hysteria, fueled the decision. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, Japanese Americans were perceived as potential threats to national security.

Key Provisions of the Order

• Military Zones: Executive Order 9066 authorized the creation of military zones from which “any or all persons may be excluded.” Although the order did not specify ethnic groups, it was primarily applied to Japanese Americans.

• Relocation and Internment: The order led to the establishment of internment camps, where approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens, were forcibly relocated and confined.

Implementation and Impact

• War Relocation Authority: The War Relocation Authority (WRA) was established to oversee the relocation and internment process. Families were given short notice to dispose of their properties and belongings before being transported to camps.

• Living Conditions: Internment camps were often located in remote areas with harsh climates. Internees lived in overcrowded barracks with inadequate facilities, facing significant disruptions to their lives and livelihoods.

Aftermath and Consequences

• Legal Challenges: The internment policy faced legal challenges, most notably in the Supreme Court cases of Korematsu v. United States and Hirabayashi v. United States, which upheld the government’s actions at the time.

• Redress and Apology: Decades later, the U.S. government formally acknowledged the injustice of the internment. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which offered a formal apology and reparations to surviving internees.

• Historical Significance: Executive Order 9066 remains a stark reminder of the impact of wartime fear and prejudice on civil liberties. It serves as a critical lesson in the importance of safeguarding constitutional rights, even during times of national crisis.

The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II is a significant chapter in American history, reflecting the complex interplay of security, race, and civil rights.