As Americans, we all have civil rights. After the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, these rights were taken away from the Japanese Americans. They were forced to leave their daily lives (job, house, and friends). These Japanese Americans on the mainland were put into concentration camps and left there for 4 years. During World War II, The Japanese-Americans were withheld from their rights and were forced to leave their homes and relocate to internment camps. During this time, America did not uphold their responsibilities, as the Japanese-Americans were not treated equally. On the day of the attack, Japan succeeded with their plan of “surprise.” The United States had “ no defenses and many of their guns were not loaded” (Keegan 255). Although they saw many aircrafts approaching through the radar that was installed at the harbor, the Americans thought nothing of it (Keegan 254). Because of the unexpected Japanese move, the United States suffered greatly on December 7, 1941; Japan successfully sank and damaged 18 US ships, 8 battleships, and 180 planes. In addition, thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives that day, and many homes were completely destroyed. Once Yamamoto heard the results of the attack, he was thrilled; Japan successfully carried out their long scheduled attack (Axelrod 152). However, his joy soon ended as on December 8, the day after the bombing, when Roosevelt declared war against Japan (Axelrod 149). On December 7th, 1941, Japanese aircrafts attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor (Axelrod 148). Before this, the United States had not entered World War II, but this changed everything. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise, which consisted of two waves. By the end of the day, many United S... ... middle of paper ... ...s were deprived from their rights as United States citizens. The United States did not maintain their responsibilities to their people. Before the camps were finished being built, the Japanese Americans were sent to various sights. For example, stables at racetracks were used. The internment camps did not have acceptable conditions. Many fell ill because of diseases that spread very easily and quickly. Also, because they were located in Western states, it was very hard to grow food because the soil was a challenge. Civil rights were taken away from the Japanese Americans for a period of time. It also connects back to World War II, specifically Pearl Harbor, which changed American history. America did not handle their responsibilities well during this period of time. Although there was an inequality of rights, we have grown since then and learned from our mistakes.
The conditions the Japanese Americans were put through were horrible and everyone deserves to be treated equally. The worst part was the persecution of numerous innocent people because they did nothing wrong. The outbreak of hysteria was a big part of them being thrown into camps because the government thought they were working with Japan. In the Internment Camps and Salem Witch Trials people had no evidence and were treated unfairly, making them similar even though it was two different time
The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious events that happened in U.S. history. On December 7, 1941, Japan made a surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base and airfields at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More than two thousand Americans died and a thousand two hundred were wounded. Eighteen ships were badly damaged, including five battleships. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt with the support of the Congress, declared war on Japan. It led United States’ official involvement in World War II. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of a deteriorating relationship with the U. S. The “New World Order”, expansion and resources, and economic sanctions were factors that conducted to another disaster on the Second World War.
There are several military and constitutional justifications the United States government had in placing the Japanese in internments after the attack on Pearl Harbor. These justifications can all be related to National Security, with fear of future attacks, sabotage and espionage, and doubt of Japanese American’s loyalty. The main purpose of the government is protection under the constitution. To ensure national security, the privacy of one maybe evaded to secure millions. Very few advocates of civil liberties stepped forward against the internments regardless of the constitutional rights being invaded of the American citizens and resident aliens.
On December 7,1941 Japan raided the airbases across the islands of Pearl Harbour. The “sneak attack” targeted the United States Navy. It left 2400 army personnel dead and over a thousand Americans wounded. U.S. Navy termed it as “one of the great defining moments in history”1 President Roosevelt called it as “A Day of Infamy”. 2 As this attack shook the nation and the Japanese Americans became the immediate ‘focal point’. At that moment approximately 112,000 Persons of Japanese descent resided in coastal areas of Oregon, Washington and also in California and Arizona.3
It’s a beautiful sunny morning, on a tropical island that everyone would love to take a vacation at. It’s approximately 6:00 am, December 7, 1941, when a first group of 181 kamikaze planes attacked; targeting key naval bases stationed at Hawaii; a sustained crippling of U.S. naval forces for about 6 months. The death toll was 2,500. Out of the 9 battleships, 8 were heavily damaged by the assault on Pearl Harbor and out of the 8, three were unrepairable, USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and the USS Utah. 160 aircrafts were put out of commission, and nearly 130 were heavily damaged. This was the first incident in which there was an act of war, committed on U.S. soil, outside of the American Revolution and the Civil War. The world was at war, and the U.S. remained neutral until now. Before the attack, the U.S. was in great debate whether to enter the war or to stay out of it. The act of war forced the U.S. into the War and triggered a controversial debate in whether to retaliate against Japan with the use of nuclear arms.
“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” These words were spoken the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The bombing of Pearl Harbor cost more than 2,000 lives and nearly destroyed 20 naval vessels. Eight of these ships happened to be battleships, but luckily no aircraft carriers were in the area. On December 8, the day after Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt gave his address to the nation. He ended this address with, “I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire,” thus beginning the United States role in WWII.
On the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, a mysterious aircraft circled overhead U.S. navy’s most important naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Many personnel misunderstood the situation as a naive pilot flying in unauthorized areas until additional planes appeared atop with red circles, which were promulgated as the rising sun, the Japanese symbol for war (Wukovits 8). However, this “surprise” attack came with a reason: The U.S. had been at political odds with Japan for over a decade, as it had ceased importing oil shipments from Japan. Although the military tried to defend themselves to their utmost power, America was not prepared enough. Bombs were dropped, destroying infrastructure, killing 2,403 civilians and wounding 1,178 others (Kiong 1). Franklin D. Roosevelt, and navy personnel could have prevented these losses. In retrospect,there were many prognostications that, if were scrutinized more meticulously, the United States government could have used to prepare
“Early on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing more than 2,400 Americans. They destroyed or heavily damaged eight battleships, three cruisers, three destroyers, and almost two hundred airplanes (Henretta, p.732).” That day caught America off guard and by surprise. Nobody expected someone to attack us on our own soil. It is one thing to attack our Soldiers throughout the world, but to come to our country was a brazen act that almost certainly demanded
December 17th, 1941 was a day that will forever “live in infamy”, as it was the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a US naval base in Hawaii. After two waves of attacks on Pearl Harbor, more than two thousand American soldiers and sailors, and another one thousand were wounded. The Japanese destroyed about twenty American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. It has commonly been wondered whether this attack could’ve been prevented, and after much examination, it is clear that this attack could’ve never occurred. In his “Day of Infamy speech”, Roosevelt himself said, “It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago.” There were many causes for the attack on Pearl Harbor, stemming from bad relations between Japan and the United States. Prior to the attack, the United States treated Japan disrespectfully in many ways, creating tension and discomfort between the two countries. Countless warnings and clues were interpreted of an upcoming attack, but were not taken as serious of a threat as they were, and weren’t sent to any naval bases. On the day of the assault, no one was prepared to defend themselves or fight. There were many events that provoked Japan to attack Pearl Harbor, and the whole event could have been prevented, if it hadn’t been for many actions of the US.
A previous promise between British Prime Minister, Winstin Churchill and President Roosevelt was honored when Britain declared war upon Japan two hours after the US declaration. The events surrounding the bombing of Pearl Harbor prove the US handled the situation very poorly. Many opposing tactics were noted and ignored. Warnings were thought of as routine. Even survivors, who were fully aware of the Japanese tendencies of war on China, the government war warnings and their country's unprepared state, still describe the attack as a surprise. The Japanese military strategies were intelligent and well executed; although, the Japanese attack would not have been nearly as effective had the Americans not have been so blatantly ignorant.
Pearl Harbor was one of the most motivational events in American history. From the very beginning Japan and America had their own social views and stereotypes about each other that a feud was bound to occur. On December 7, 1941 the nation of Japan sent out a fleet of their Imperial navy to attack the American held base on the island of Oahu. Leading this attack was Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who was a militarily strategic genius.” Yamamoto was planning on sinking the entire American Pacific fleet so the U.S navy could be put out of the war for the time being and the Japanese navy could continue their expansion in the Southwest Pacific.”(book)(Gordon Prange 136-138)
The intelligence failures of Pearl Harbor led to the biggest war disaster in the United States history. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the United States Naval Base in Pearl Harbor was “surprised” by the Japanese attack. The Japanese launched an all-out offensive. For two hours, 21 American Naval Ships were damaged or sunk, more than 2,400 Americans were killed, and 188 United States aircraft were destroyed. The following day, the United States disregarded their policy of isolationism with Japan and declared war against them.
In the midst of WWII, the U.S. trust of Japan spiraled downward as explosions flew over Pearl Harbor. On December 7,1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. After the attacks, the Japanese-Americans were placed in internment camps. They were removed from their homes, and placed in homes and camps on the Pacific Coast. Many people argued whether the internment of Japanese-Americans was justified or not justified. The internment of Japanese-Americans was definitely justified because the U.S. needed to protect the West Coast, the U.S. wasn’t taking any chances during WWII, and the Japanese could help the U.S. with the war efforts.
On December 7, 1941 the ultimate disaster in the history of the United States occurred. “Pearl Harbor is a lagoon island on the island of Hawaii” . The deep-water Naval Base for the United States Pacific Fleet was docked and filled with United States servicemen. On that calm, Sunday morning the last thing expected was an attack. The United States had deciphered Japan’s code earlier about the surprise attack, but was too late to figure out the location. Since the attack by the Japanese was so awful, many lives were lost and the mindset of America was drastically changed. “2.335 servicemen were killed in this attack and 68 civilians” . Unprepared for this surprise attack, overhead Japanese planes and under water submarines were prepared to do major damage. Bombs were dropped on land, American planes, and ships. One was the greatly known USS Arizona, which sunk within seconds. Overall 9 ships were sunken and 21 ships were severely damaged. Under the command of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese successfully damaged the Pearl Harbor Naval Base.
World War II was a time of deliberate hate among groups of innocent people who were used as scapegoats. Japanese-Americans were persecuted due to the fact that they looked like citizens of Japan, who had attacked the United States on December 7th, 1941 at the naval base, Pearl Harbor. This hatred toward the group was due to newspapers creating a scare for the American people, as well as the government restricting the rights of Japanese-Americans. The Japanese-Americans were mistreated during World War II for no other reason than being different. These men, women, and children were loathed by the American public for looking like the people of the Japanese army that had attacked the United States. These people were only hated by association, even though many had come to the United States to create a better life for their family.