Japanese American Incarceration: The Camps and Coerced Labor during World War II

During World War II, the U.S. government unjustly imprisoned thousands of Japanese American citizens and forced them to work without pay. This study reveals how the government exploited imprisoned Japanese Americans and connects it to the history of prison labor in the United States.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Between 1942 and 1945, the United States government wrongfully imprisoned thousands of Japanese American citizens and profited from their labor.

Japanese American Incarceration recasts the forced removal and incarceration of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II as a history of prison labor and exploitation. Following Franklin Roosevelt's 1942 Executive Order 9066, which called for the exclusion of potentially dangerous groups from military zones along the West Coast, the federal government placed Japanese Americans in makeshift prisons throughout the country. In addition to working on day-to-day operations of the camps, Japanese Americans were coerced into harvesting crops, digging irrigation ditches, paving roads, and building barracks for little to no compensation and often at the behest of privately run businesses—all in the name of national security.

How did the U.S. government use incarceration to address labor demands during World War II, and how did imprisoned Japanese Americans respond to the stripping of not only their civil rights, but their labor rights as well? Using a variety of archives and collected oral histories, Japanese American Incarceration uncovers the startling answers to these questions. Stephanie Hinnershitz's timely study connects the government's exploitation of imprisoned Japanese Americans to the history of prison labor in the United States.

The incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was a dark chapter in American history, marked by the forced removal and imprisonment of approximately 120,000 individuals solely based on their race and ethnicity. This unjust treatment was a result of the government's fear and prejudice towards Japanese Americans, who were perceived as a threat to national security.

The government's response to the war effort was marked by a series of executive orders, including Executive Order 9066, which authorized the Secretary of War to designate any area as an "exclusion zone" and to exclude individuals from it based on race, religion, or national origin. This order led to the forced removal of Japanese Americans from their homes and communities on the West Coast and their incarceration in concentration camps.

In the concentration camps, Japanese Americans were subjected to harsh conditions, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food. They were forced to work long hours, often for little to no compensation, and were often subjected to physical abuse and humiliation. The government used the labor of Japanese Americans to support the war effort, including the construction of military bases and the production of war materials.

Despite the harsh conditions, Japanese Americans in the concentration camps refused to give up hope and fought for their rights and dignity. They organized resistance groups, such as the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), which advocated for their rights and the release of their families from the camps. They also staged protests and hunger strikes to draw attention to their situation and to demand their freedom.

The incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was a stain on American history, and it has had a lasting impact on the lives of those who were affected. The trauma of the experience has been passed down through generations, and it has contributed to the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality in the United States.

In conclusion, the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was a gross violation of their civil and labor rights. It was a dark chapter in American history that should never be forgotten. The government's exploitation of Japanese Americans in the concentration camps was a testament to the depths of prejudice and fear that existed in the United States at the time. However, the resilience and determination of Japanese Americans in the face of adversity should also be remembered, and their story should be used as a lesson to inspire future generations to fight for justice and equality.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812253368