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Chinese Immigration
The Chinese immigrants came to the United States to find gold and to work on the railroad. They settled along the west coast, mainly in California. The Amercicans were not welcoming to the Chinese. -
Japanese come to America
The Japanese came to America for freedom, economic opprtunity and the promise of a better life. They were general laborers and worked on the railroads. When they arrived, the Americans were not friendly because they felt the immigrants were taking jobs away from American citizens. -
The Japanese Exclusion League
The Japanese Exclusion League was formed to prevent Japanese immigration to the United States. This was one of the first anti-Japanese movements. It was aimed at perventing the Japanese from coming to the United States and taking jobs away from Americans. This is one of the first signs that the Americans were unhappy with the Japanese coming to America. -
The Gentleman's Agreement
The Gentlemen's Agreement between the United States and Japan in 1907-1908 represented an effort by President Theodore Roosevelt to calm growing tension between the two countries over the immigration of Japanese workers. The issue reflected the prejudices of Californians who feared that Japanese immigrants would depress wages and gain control of most of the good farming land. -
Germany Invades Poland
On this day in 1939, German forces bombard Poland on land and from the air, as Adolf Hitler seeks to regain lost territory. This was the event that led to World War II. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor becuase they did not like the fact that Americans had claimed Hawaii as part of the United States. This major event led to the United States use of Japanese Internment camps. The Americans were afraid of an invasion of the west coast by the Japanese. The United States feared the Japanese immigrants would provide aid to such an invasion. -
Signing of the Order 9066
Ten weeks after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of any or all people from military areas. The military indefined the entire West Coast, home to the majority of Americans of Japanese ancestry or citizenship, as a military area. By June, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were relocated to remote internment camps built by the U.S. military in scattered locations around the country. -
E-Day
This was the date set by the military for the removal of the Japanese immigrants and their descendants from their homes and their placement into an interment camp. Most people were only given 48 hours before they had to evacuate. The US justified their action by claiming that there was a danger of those of Japanese descent spying for the Japanese -
Life in the Intrenment Camp
Life in the camp was hard. They were only allowed to bring a few of their possessions. Instead of selling what they couldn't bring for less money, they smashed or burned their other possessions. They were guarded by military people and had no freedom. -
United States Approves End to Interment Camps
In December 1944 Public Proclamation number 21, which became effective in January 1945, allowed the Japanese to return to their homes. When they returned home, many had lost their land and homes. Some chose to stay and rebuild their lives, while other returned to Japan. The effects from the camp were too much for htem to overcome.
