Japanese American Internment During World War II

Roger Daniels examines the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II through official documents, personal accounts, and historical analysis. This concise historical text covers the period from Pearl Harbor through the postwar redress movement. The book presents the key political decisions, military orders, and social factors that led to the forced relocation and imprisonment of over 110,000 people of Japanese descent. The narrative follows the progression from initial wartime hysteria through the establishment and operation of the concentration camps. The book includes firsthand testimonies from Japanese Americans who experienced life in the camps, as well as perspectives from government officials and military personnel involved in implementing the internment policy. Maps, photographs, and reproductions of original documents support the historical record. This work confronts questions about civil rights, racial prejudice, and constitutional freedoms during times of national crisis. The parallels between historical events and contemporary debates about national security versus individual liberty emerge organically through the factual presentation.

Readers note this book serves as a straightforward historical introduction to Japanese American internment, based on declassified documents and personal accounts. Readers appreciate: - Clear organization and accessible writing style - Inclusion of primary source documents - Focus on constitutional and legal aspects - Thorough examination of government decision-making process Common criticisms: - Limited coverage of daily life in camps - Few personal narratives or firsthand stories - Academic tone may be dry for some readers - Some readers wanted more photographs/visuals Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (86 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Sample reader comment: "Strong on facts and policy decisions but could use more human interest elements to engage general readers." - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "The primary documents section helps students understand how internment policies developed." - Amazon reviewer

Years of Infamy by Michi Weglyn A first-person account from a former internee exposes government documents and presents testimonies about Japanese American internment camps.

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, James D. Houston This memoir chronicles a Japanese American family's experiences before, during, and after their imprisonment at California's Manzanar internment camp.

The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell This book reveals the story of a secret internment camp in Texas where Japanese, German, and Italian Americans were held and exchanged for U.S. prisoners during World War II.

By Order of the President by Greg Robinson This examination traces Franklin D. Roosevelt's decisions and policies regarding Japanese American incarceration during World War II.

Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone A memoir details life in Seattle's Japanese American community and the author's subsequent internment experience at Camp Minidoka in Idaho.

🗯️ Roger Daniels, the author, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later became one of America's foremost scholars on Japanese American history. 🏭 Many interned Japanese Americans lost their businesses during internment, with total property losses estimated at $400 million (equivalent to about $6 billion today). 🎓 The book reveals that college-age Japanese American students were allowed to leave the camps only if they could secure admission to universities located far from the West Coast. ⚖️ The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, discussed in detail in the book, provided each surviving internee with $20,000 in reparations and a formal apology from the U.S. government. 🗞️ Despite the widespread anti-Japanese sentiment, several newspapers, including the Washington Post and Christian Science Monitor, publicly opposed the internment policy during wartime.